Hawk Cam Star Hobbled, May Not Survive

New video shows Violet's right leg dangling uselessly.

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 bird, named Violet, is now in danger of losing her right leg. A wildlife specialist, Dr. Elizabeth Bunting, fears the hawk may not survive, reports The New York Times.     

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 on a 12th floor window ledge at New York University.     

New video shows Violet's right leg dangling uselessly. Her foot is gray and scaly from lack of blood flow.

There also appears to be a broken bone protruding above a metal wildlife band on her shin.    

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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