Prognosis is grim for hawk that tied up I-95

The prognosis seems to be bleak for the red-tailed hawk that snarled traffic on I-95 this morning.

At first, the young raptor appeared to have broken just one large wing bone, which buoyed the hopes of a caregiver that surgery might lead to the bird's recovery.

But closer examination this afternoon revealed that both wings had suffered major fractures, said Michele Goodman, director of Webbed Foot Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic in Ambler.

"This makes her recovery nearly impossible," she said.

This morning, starting around 8:30 a.m., the bird was just sitting in the fast lane on the southbound side, just north of the Academy Road exit. Two police cars monitored the situation as gaper delays backed up motorists on both sides of the highway for more than an hour.

Early radio reports and callers suggested the bird might be an osprey or an owl.

The bird was taken to Webbed Foot Wildlife by Jerry Czech, a wildlife conservation officer for the state game commission.

Czech explained the hawk was probably injured after getting tumbled by the wind of a passing truck or car.

Hawks like to perch on roadside poles, then swoop down to pick mice, rabbits or snakes off grassy medians, he said. Getting rolled or flipped can damage a vulnerable bird.

"This happens a lot," said Czech, estimating he picks up six or seven injured hawks on highways every year.

Tomorrow, Goodman will get x-rays done, on the chance the bones can pinned and repaired by Ed Frankel of Honeybook Animal Hospital.

"But I'm not optimistic," she said.

Webbed Foot Wildlife, which specializes in helping waterfowl and birds of prey, is a nonprofit center that depends on donations, she explained.

During the center's three years, the work has been growing, so she's hoping to move to larger quarters.

For contact information, visit the clinic's website, http://www.webbedfootwildlife.org.