A celebrated New York City red-tailed hawk has lost his yearlong mate.
Pale Male’s latest love, Lima, was found dead in Central Park on Sunday.
The hawk took up with Lima after his longtime mate, Lola, disappeared in December 2010.
Pale Mate and Lola famously had built a nest on a Fifth Avenue high-rise ledge before they were evicted by the co-op. They were allowed to rebuild their nest after an outcry from animal lovers.
Wildlife photographer and Pale Male chronicler Lincoln Karim theorized that Lima may have eaten a rat that had consumed poison. He has arranged for tests on Lima’s remains to determine the cause of her death.