The hawk stuck in the Toms River library is now gone for good, the library hopes

TOMS RIVER − It nearly came down to a live pigeon wearing a bulletproof-like vest to convince the hawk that had taken up residence at the Toms River Library Oct. 24 to finally take flight.

That was one of the last-ditch options Bob Glass, a master falconer, thought of trying after spending several days along with other avian and wildlife experts attempting to capture the bird. The pigeon vest employs filament loops to snag hawks and other birds of prey by the talons while leaving the secured pigeon, a preferred meal, unharmed.

Instead of the pigeon, it was the library facilities and administrative staff that finally drew the recalcitrant raptor out from its hiding place within the second-floor drop ceiling.

After working alongside experts like Glass for more than a week, they removed ceiling tiles in a conference room, saw the hawk drop down a few times, then removed all the tiles and opened the rooms large casement windows.

The hawk, a first-year female Cooper's hawk, not a red-tailed hawk as the avian experts first decided, apparently flew out.

More:How deep is the ocean? Let's just say it's a very long way to the bottom

But staff at the library are still crossing their fingers. They thought the bird left last week and after announcing that Oct. 28, realized they were mistaken. The hawk was still between the rafters and drop ceiling.

This time they waited to make the call.

"It has been over a day now since anyone has heard any noise from the hawk, and we believe it has safely left the building," library spokeswoman Sherri Taliercio said Thursday in an email.

Glass credited the staff with resolving the problem that prompted the shutdown of the library more than once and agreed with their assessment.

"The bird doesn't appear to be in there anymore," said the longtime past president of the New Jersey Falconry Club.

The facilities staff went so far as to leave a cell phone in the conference room that was playing a recording of a bird chirping, Glass said.

Glass said the young Cooper's hawk proved a tough challenge.

"I've been doing this for 40 years and this is the most complex case I've ever seen," he said.

He declined to allow a photo to be taken of the pigeon in the bulletproof-like vest.

"That's like asking Colonel Sanders to give away his recipe," he said.

Licensed falconers, skilled at their art, like to hang onto their trade secrets.

Calls about trapped raptors that the falconry club fields, like the one from the library, have become more and more common, he said. The calls usually come from places like Home Depots or warehouses, he said.

To deal with the rise in requests, Glass has been putting together a raptor rescue and recovery group within the club that helps the state Division of Fish and Wildlife respond to calls on raptors in need of rescuing.

The increased calls come from an increase in birds, he said.

"The population of birds of prey has just exploded," Glass said. "Forty-five years ago when we saw a bald eagle we'd talk about it for six months. Now it's common."

Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or at kserrano@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Raptor caught in Toms River NJ library gets help escaping from staff