Michael Wallis, who usually writes
this article, is currently incapacitated at home after a long and not
uncomplicated recovery from an operation, so your editor is taking his
place for this issue. We wish Michael a speedy recovery and look forward
to seeing him soon.
As in the good old London bus scenario, the
hospital has had quiet periods and busy periods during the past
month. As I write this, it is pretty full of both wild birds and
some of our own residents.
 |
Tawny Owl with broken
wings |
We have had seven Tawny owls, three of which
had to be euthanased; one was dead on arrival and one died soon
after arrival. The suggested possible cause for the injuries to all
five was road traffic accidents. Of the remaining two, one is still
in the hospital being fed up, having come in from Stockbridge very
thin and with concussion. The other had been in the hospital for a
month and is now settling into our Tawny Owl aviary.
 |
Galaxy the Spectacled
Owl |
One success story was a Sparrow Hawk
which came in on 22 October having been found on the A34 near
Newbury. It was thin, had blood in its left eye and a trauma to
its right wing. After a good recovery, it was re-released by
volunteer Jan Jacobs on 17 November.
 |
Straited Caracara Sirius with bumblefoot |
Four Kestrels also arrived during this
period, one of which died and one had to be euthanased because
it had a fractured lower spine and was paralysed. The third is
still with us, recovering from sinus problems caused by a bang
to its head, as is the fourth, which was found near Bulford and
was thin when it arrived, so is currently being fed up and will
hopefully soon be re-released.
Other current patients include a Barn-owl
which is recovering from a shoulder injury and one of the young
Hobbies which Mike wrote about last month. It will have to stay
with us until next spring as it is a migratory species and has
now ‘missed the boat’ for this year, so to speak.
We also have three of our own birds in at
present; Sirius the Straited Caracara is all bandaged up and
receiving medication after undergoing an operation for
bumblefoot. Galaxy the Spectacled Owl has a foot infection and
is being treated with antibiotics, and Coll the Black Kite, who
has always been a sickly child, is undergoing a problematical
moult and so a bit of warmth and TLC in one of the hospital bays
should hopefully help him along.
Lou Richie.