We have just experienced another very quiet month in the hospital.  We are only treating seven birds at the moment.  One from the park, Beamish the Black kite is still with us, as well as three long term patients and three new ones.  We have not yet seen any baby Tawny Owls which is very surprising looking back at previous years.  We received twenty-three last spring.

Black Kite Beamish

Beamish is still receiving medication but his leg infection is clearing up well.  He will be returned to his outside aviary as soon as he is fully fit.

Our long term patients include the Tawny Owl with an injury to his right eye caused probably from an impact to his head, the Buzzard that came in with concussion and missing tail feathers, and a Barn Owl from the park aviary which was not fit enough to be returned to the wild.  It has an eye infection which is being treated with antibiotic ointment.

Sparrowhawk in hospital

The three wild birds included a local Sparrowhawk found in the shop at Weyhill Nurseries.  It was suffering from concussion because it flew into the window trying to get out.  It was returned to the wild after spending a few days in the hospital.

Buzzard in hospital

We have a Little Owl from Shipton Bellinger which is very thin but does not appear to be suffering from any serious injury.  It may be quite young as its tail appears not to be fully grown. 

The latest patient is a Buzzard brought into us from Elstead in Surrey.  It has an eye injury which was probably caused by flying into something hard, and it cannot stand.  It is with the vet, who is going to x-ray it and carry out a further assessment.

Mike Wallis.