Violet Of 'Hawk Cam' In Danger Of Losing Her Leg
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The mother of a red-tailed hawk family featured on a popular New York City bird cam is suffering from a very serious injury.
The New York Times' "Hawk Cam" has been capturing the life of the hawk family on a window ledge on the NYU campus since April.
But now the mother bird, named Violet, is in danger of losing her right leg. A wildlife specialist, Dr. Elizabeth Bunting, fears the hawk may not survive.
Violet was seen hobbling around her nest in May, shortly after her hatchling, Pip, emerged. But she had leg problems even before the hawk cam began rolling.
Violet had severe leg swelling, which was apparently caused by a metal wildlife band that was attached months earlier.
New video shows Violet's right leg dangling uselessly. Her foot is gray and scaly from lack of blood flow.
Watch YouTube video taken of Violet in Washington Square Park below:
There also appears to be a broken bone protruding above the metal wildlife band on her shin.
No word if environmental officials plan to step in to help.
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