The Accipiter - Hospital Update September 2005

Hospital Update - September 2005

A monthly look at the comings and goings in our Hilary Smith Bird of Prey Hospital by volunteer Michael Wallis.

Little Owl chicks

The Red Kite with its twisted neck

John Chitty, Mike Reilly and Ashley
examining the 'white' Red Kite

Wordsworth on a good hair day

The hospital continues to be very busy, with 20 new patients arriving during the last month. These included four Kestrels, seven adult Tawny Owls and a selection of Sparrowhawks, Little Owls, Barn Owls, a Red Kite, a Buzzard and a European Eagle Owl.

One of the adult Tawny Owls with us has a broken leg. The vet has successfully pinned it and the bird is recovering well.

Two young Little Owls spent some time with us, arriving very thin and hungry. They had fallen down the chimney of an empty house near Thatcham, and were found by a visiting Estate Agent. They were bought into the hospital by a keen conservation supporter. The birds have been well fed and have since been returned to the wild near Thatcham and their progress is being monitored. To date they appear to be doing well. The Red Kite was transferred to us from a vet in Tilehurst near Reading, with a neck injury. As you will see from the photograph the head is twisted so that the bird’s vision is upturned. An x-ray was taken and no broken bones or internal bleeding were diagnosed.

The 'white' Red Kite in the pre-release aviary

Kipling stretching up to his food

Wordsworth on 28th August
photo by Simon Lucas

It has spent four weeks with us on medication and a good diet but showed little improvement. The decision has now regrettably been taken to put it to sleep.

The European Eagle Owl that came into us was uninjured but very thin. It had escaped from an aviary in Berkshire and had been out and about for some 3 months. The owner was traced and the bird returned home.

The 'white' Red Kite we have had since March continues to make progress but as you can see from the photograph would be very vulnerable if he was to go back out into the wild at the moment, because of the white feathers. We still hope that he will be able to be released before next winter.

Kipling the baby Griffon Vulture is growing very fast and is now feeding on one meal a day.

Breaking News. A baby African Gymogene (Polyboroides typus) was born in the hospital from an egg laid by our captive pair. The egg had been kept in the incubator. The baby weighed in at 39.7 grams. It will be hand reared and will be fully grown in 14 to 16 weeks when it will continue to live on the park. It has been named Wordsworth, continuing our theme this year of Author’s surnames.

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