If you are given a hawk flying at 17 m/s and at an altitude of 204 m and then accidentally drops its prey you can use the equation y = v₀t + 1/2gt². Substitute the values that you have and then you can get the equation:
y = v₀t + 1/2gt²
204 = 17t + 1/2(9.81)t²
4.91t² + 17t - 204 = 0
