AVIAN ALERT: How Real Life Inspired the Hawkeye Finale
Have you had the chance to see the sixth and final episode of the first season of Hawkeye on Disney+, Marvel Blog True Believers? The seasonally-themed season finale featured the full re-introduction to a certain legacy Marvel Comics character… and the first appearance of a character who was actually based on a real-life avian!
Confused? Perhaps you haven’t had the chance to see the season finale of Hawkeye on Disney+ yet. If that’s the case, and you want to remain unspoiled, then please spread your wings and fly away from this article now!
Hawkeye Finale
Rockefeller Center Xmas tree in Hawkeye episode six. Photo Credit: Marvel Studios.
In the season finale of Hawkeye, Clint Barton finds himself tumbling out of the Rockefeller Center and landing in the world-renowned Rockefeller Christmas Tree. This tree is erected each year in front of the Rockefeller Center, and is a true New York City holiday tradition (you even caught a glimpse of it in the final moments of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Marvel Blog True Believers).
However, in the Hawkeye finale, Barton discovers that a diminutive avian has taken up residence in the titular tree. This owl goes on to play an important role in the climax of the season… when he swoops in and scoops up one of the Trust-A-Bro trucks that has been shrunk-down by a Pym Particle trick arrow (here at Marvel Blog, we don’t think they survived the experience, bro).
Photo Credit: Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.
But what you might not realize is that this newly-introduced avian star is actually based on a real story! Last year, in 2020, workers from the Ravensbeard Wildlife Center stepped in to rescue an owl who had taken up residence in the evergreen tree that was destined to be cut down and sent to Rockefeller Center to become the annually decorated festive tree.
Avian Take Wing
TREE DOWN. Photo Credit: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios.
Just like the owl on Hawkeye, the owl in real life eventually flew away to begin the next chapter of their life.
Whatever this owl is doing this holiday season, here at Marvel Blog, we hope that, just like Clint and Kate on Hawkeye, this diminutive avian is spending the end of December with their family.
