HawkTalk Issue 90 Spring 2022

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HAWKTALK SPRING 2022 ISSUE 90

Winter in the National Bird of Prey Hospital ™

We were delighted in 2021 to form an official partnership with Investec to help support the vital work in our National Bird of Prey Hospital™ and conservation projects. On 23 November, a Common Buzzard that had been admitted to the hospital was fitted with a tracking unit before being released back into the wild. This buzzard had spent around 12 months in the hospital, after being found grounded in a field in a village local to the Hawk Conservancy Trust, with broken tail and wing feathers. Sadly, a number of these feathers were completely lost, leaving the bird unlikely to survive in the wild in that condition. After a long and careful rehabilitation process by our skilled hospital team, the bird was able to moult and regrow the missing feathers. After its long rehabilitation, we were thrilled to release the Buzzard in Reg’s Wildflower Meadow and follow its movements for several days. It stayed close-by, moving back towards the village where it was found. Unfortunately, however, the tracking unit was found detached from the bird after 10 days or so. It is difficult to know what may have happened and we are hopeful that the bird survived. The transmitter was still attached to the tail feather, so the bird may have simply moulted the feather. However not being able to track it for longer is quite a frustrating outcome for our team. Our hospital remained closed to new wild admissions during December and January to due to Bird Flu (Avian Influenza, AI). AI does tend to peak in wintertime, and in order to protect the Trust birds, we follow a variety of biosecurity measures, such as using footbaths.

Tracked Buzzard on arrival in the hospital

Tail mounted tracking unit

Hospital patients released in November, December 2021& January 2022 Species Buzzard* Kestrel Sparrowhawk Buzzard Reason for admission Trauma Exhausted We are hopeful that AI cases will start to decrease soon so that we can reopen to new admissions, just in time for Tawny Owl chick season! In January there were three birds in recovery in the Hospital, two Red Kites and a Buzzard, all of which are recovering very well. We expect to release all three of the recovering birds within the next few weeks.

Wing injury Wing injury Trauma Car collision

Tawny Owl Tawny Owl

Buzzard released in December

* Released with tracking unit