Buzzard which arrived covered in an oily substance

Sam administering eye drops to his reluctant Black Kite, Fennel

Goose the young Bateleur

We have had six wild birds during the month. We received a Sparrowhawk found in the Newbury area of Berkshire. The bird had a damaged right wing showing an open wound. It was euthanased. A second Sparrowhawk came in from the Andover area also with right wing damage. It was taken by a member of the public to our vets who passed it on to us to be treated and looked after. It is recovering well.

Our friends at The Hungerford Vet Hospital brought us a Barn Owl with a badly damaged wing. This was not repairable and the bird was euthanased. A Tawny Owl from Hook came to us via an RSPCA Officer with an open wound to its wing. This bird also had to be euthanased.

A member of the public had found a Buzzard in a waste skip, covered in an oily substance, in the Southampton area and took it to the PDSA Centre. After cleaning the bird they brought it to us to look after. Initially it would not eat but is doing well now. The bird is receiving regular medication and is showing signs of recovering.

And finally, the last wild bird to be treated is a Kestrel from Amport. It came in wet, muddy and below its expected weight. It was very slow to start feeding but is now doing well and is likely to be released back into the wild in a week or two.

Last month I mentioned that we were treating several of the Trust’s birds. I am pleased to report that Galaxy the Spectacled Owl, Sirius the Striated Caracara, Duffy the European Eagle Owl, as well as Madeleine the Secretary Bird have all returned to their aviaries. Laura, the Harris Hawk has been back to her aviary but did not settle at all well and has returned to the hospital for a further stay. She knows when she is well off when the weather gets bad.

We now have a three further Trust birds in having treatment. Goose, the young Bateleur Eagle has been hospitalised with a nasal infection. He is receiving antibiotics.

Two of the new young Black Kites are unwell. Mint was under condition and spent 4 days with us. Fennel had an eye infection and received antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs as well as eye drops. The photo shows Sam about to administer eye drops. Fennel has also now returned to his aviary.