One of the hawks I watch died over the weekend. We suspect he ate a poisoned rat, but necropsy results aren't back yet. The Parks Dept. found his body on Sunday, but didn't tell anyone, so we spent a miserable few days searching and worrying.

He was the father of newly hatched babies (about 10-14 days old) and it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the mother to raise them alone. I just visited the nest; the mom hawk is still calling for him. We can't know what birds feel, but I can tell you the humans who have watched this pair for years feel very sad.

Here's the last photo I took of Riverside Dad, showing a little bit of his brood patch.