The Accipiter - Hospital Update October 2005

Hospital Update - October 2005

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

This month has seen and interesting mix of birds brought into us.

Tawny Owl

We received four Tawny Owls adding to the many that have been patients with us during this year. Unfortunately 3 of the 4 were very badly injured and either died or had to be euthanased. Last month I reported that a Tawny Own had had a broken leg pinned by the vet. This bird has now joined the other Tawny Owls in the aviary opposite the hospital.

In the August report I wrote about our baby Tawny Owls being released in woodland near to The Conservancy and the Students wrote about the project they were involved with. Two of the baby Owls were not old enough to be part of that project and remained with foster parents in The Park. They were BTO ringed and have now been released near to where they were found in North Hampshire, northeast of Hungerford.

Three more Barn Owls have come into the hospital but they all died or were euthanased because of their injuries. We have also had a couple of Kestrels, both have been released.

We have had an influx of Sparrowhawks, mostly with head injuries. Out of the 7 patients this month, 5 either died or were euthanased.

Sparrowhawk
photo - John Atkinson

The Sparrowhawk, or more correctly the Northern Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), is common and often seen in most country areas in the UK and can be found in most of Europe except Iceland. It is also common in parts of NW Africa, Russia, right across Siberia, around the Mediterranean, much of Asia, China, Japan as well as Pakistan. It became scarce after many decades of pesticide poisoning and persecution but has generally recovered well. It hunts small birds, darting along hedges, woodland edges or even into gardens to take its prey by surprise. It will take birds from tits to pigeons. It nests in May- June laying a single brood of 4 or 5 eggs.

The white feathered Red Kite is still with us. He has been fitted with a BTO (British trust for Ornithology) ring in preparation for him to be released from the meadow. He still needs to grow his tail feathers for a further two or three weeks before he is allowed to go.

Three of our own park birds have also been hospital visitors. Figaro, the Brahminy Kite has had a leg infection; Widgeon, the Harris Hawk has a skin infection; and Drifter, the Saker is having his aviary upgraded.

Sad News.

Fraggle at his best - flying in
Reg's Meadow

I am saddened to have to report that Fraggle, our White Bellied Sea-Eagle died of lead poisoning, following a short stay in the hospital. It appears that he probably picked up a dead rabbit that had been shot.

Fraggle has been a very popular member of our flying team both with members of staff and regular guests. He was 22 years old. (If you would like to know more about Fraggle, please read the article written by Jon Scott in the July issue of the Web Site, and Bob Rogers’ obituary in both this month’s issue and on our Members' site).

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