Our juvenile Bateleur, Goose

Twenty birds are either in the hospital or have received treatment during the last month. Fourteen were from the wild, three of our own from aviaries on the park and three new birds destined to live on the park.

Last month I reported that Trevor our older resident Bateleur Eagle had spent time receiving treatment. This month we have been looking after our very young Bateleur Eagle named Goose who came to the park last year. Goose is under training as part of our daily displays. He is suffering from blocked sinuses and is responding well to treatment. He is still flying during the day but spending his nights in the warmth of a hospital bay.

Other new residents last year were Red Backed Hawks. One of these is in the hospital with a leg infection which is receiving treatment. He is slowly responding but will he be with us for a little while longer before he is fit enough to go back into his aviary.

Red-backed Hawk

Hamble, one of our Brahminy Kites spent a short time with us.

Three new birds for the park have spent short periods of time in the hospital while accommodation was prepared for them, which also allowed staff time to get to know them.

One of these is a beautifully marked 11 year old female White Tailed Sea Eagle who has come in from a private collector. The bird’s original partner died and was not being replaced. She has gone into an aviary with our existing male. They have settled down well together.

The other two are a breeding pair of Tropical Screech Owls (Otus choliba) also given to the Trust by a private owner.

Tropical Screech Owls

Tropical Screech Owls are usually found in savannah woodland in Central and South America where they are quite common. They are small birds about 210 mm high when fully grown. They eat mainly small creatures like insects and spiders but our two quite like their chicks.

The fourteen wild birds included eight Tawny Owls, two of which are still receiving treatment and one was released back into the wild after spending nearly six weeks recovering from leg and wing injuries. There have been three Barn Owls, one is still in hospital, one Little Owl and one Buzzard both of which had to be euthanized, and a Kestrel still receiving treatment to a broken left wing.

Mike Wallis.