Over the many years of observation, a hawk owl flew into the gardens of the Russian Museum for the first time. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Leningrad Region and is a rare, nesting, wintering species. The nest of a hawk owl was discovered only once, in 1997, by Ph.D., senior researcher at the Zoological Institute V.G. Vysotsky. In subsequent years, encounters with this species occurred mainly in winter during migrations in search of food.

The owl was attacked by crows on the territory of the Mikhailovsky Garden and was rescued by a security officer from the Russian Museum service. Under the supervision of Ph.D., senior researcher at the Zoological Institute V.M. The brave owl was released in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.

It should be noted that attacks by crows on the honey beetle and other bird species in the Mikhailovsky Garden occur annually, which is due to the high number of gray crows. Employees of the gardens of the Russian Museum ask not to feed the hooded crow on the territory of the historical gardens in the city center.