Male, Red-Tail Hawk Missing From Franklin Institute Confirmed Dead
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The male hawk that had gone missing from the nest at the Franklin Institute was confirmed dead on Thursday.
The Franklin Institute received word that the male hawk was hit by a truck near the Schuylkill Expressway and the museum on Saturday morning around 6:30.
Steve Snyder, Vice President of Exhibits and Program Development, said the Pennsylvania Game Commission confirmed that it picked up a red-tail hawk in that area Saturday afternoon. Snyder said now the challenge is to make sure the mother and three baby hawks are okay, and that looks promising.
"We have been offering some occasional supplemental food, a rat or two out on the ledge," said Snyder. "We are pleased that just the other day, the mother hopped off the ledge out of camera view and came back with the rat, and the family did consume that offering, so they are accepting some supplemental food."
Snyder said that's important because the babies will be getting bigger and faster in the next few weeks, and soon enough they will be leaving the nest.
The mother will then find another mate.
Snyder isn't sure if any of them will come back to this nest.
