Buzzard which came to us with concussion

During this last month, twenty-six birds have spent time in the Hilary Smith Bird of Prey Hospital as patients.   Three of these came in from aviaries on the park.  Of the others, twenty-one were wild birds from a number of sources and two were new birds for the park.

We treated two Buzzards, one with wing damage cause by barbed wire and one, with a serious spinal injury causing paralyzed legs, which had to be euthanased.  A third Buzzard came in via The Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital with concussion following a road traffic accident.  He is still with us and is recovering well. One adult Tawny Owl came in, in very poor condition, and had to be euthanased but eight juvenile Tawny Owls have arrived and will be kept on the park until fully grown when they will be released as part of the research project started last year.

Peregrine with hood and jesses ready to commence training before release

We have seen 3 adults and 1 juvenile Kestrel.  I adult had to be euthanased because of serious wing fractures, the juvenile came to us from the Beaulieu Motor Museum and is still receiving treatment.  The other two adults have both been released near to where they were found at Stockbridge and Andover.

Three Little Owls have paid us visits and all three were released back in to the wild.  Interestingly, I released one in the conservation area of a Military Barracks in North Winchester, accompanied by an armed guard and a soldier with a rifle; a first for me.

A Peregrine Falcon is receiving treatment at the moment.  He came in very weak from Colerne (between Chippenham and Bath).   It is thought that he had fallen from a nest site in a Church Tower so has been nicknamed Angel.  He will have to be taught to hunt before he can be released back into the wild otherwise he will not be able to catch food and will starve.   He is now ready to start work learning to hunt for himself.

Buzzard which came to us with concussion

Two new birds have arrived on the park during the last month.  They are Steller’s Sea Eagles, Haliaeetus pelagicus.  They were confiscated by the Dutch Customs and offered to The Hawk Conservancy Trust.

These can be found in the wild in eastern Russia, The Bering Sea and associated Islands and often winter in Japanese waters.  They were formerly found breeding in Northern Korea but their present status is unknown and they may be extinct here.

Steller’s Sea Eagles are found close to water on rocky cliffs and coasts.  They generally nest in tall trees or on cliff ledges.   They feed principally on fish but will scavenge when necessary.  They may eat birds and mammals including small seals when fish is in short supply.  When fishing, they tend to behave like a Grey Heron, standing by the shore/river edge and swooping into the water.  They may also fish from a perch above the water.

These are large birds, weighing more than 5 kg and their wing measurements can be between 570 and 620 mm.  They are also sometimes known as White-shouldered Sea Eagle or Pacific Sea Eagle.

Mike Wallis.