THREE predatory birds are well on the path to rehabilitation thanks to concerned residents and the care of Geoff Fourie of the Empangeni Veterinary Hospital.
The birds were brought to Fourie with a myriad of injuries, some of which required some experimental techniques to heal.
‘I am getting a lot of wild animals lately,’ he said.
‘Sometimes I encounter animals I have never worked on, so a bit of research is needed before I continue.’
It’s not often though that three different species of predatory birds end up in his surgery.
Lanner Falcon
This juvenile Lanner falcon arrived at the hospital with a broken leg.
‘We had to put pins right through the leg, and within five minutes after surgery the bird was putting weight on the leg, which was great to see.’
The Lanner falcon is second only to the Peregrine falcon for use in hunting, Geoff added.
Black Sparrowhawk
This hawk, dubbed Jimmy, came to Geoff with a broken right wing. Fortunately Jimmy did not require surgery and responded well to a bandage that kept the mobility of the wing to a minimum.
‘I ended up tying the wing to its tail to limit the mobility, and allow the bones to set properly. Fortunately it was quite a clean break so it will heal just fine.’
Yellow-billed Kite
This yellow-billed kite was badly injured when it was hit by a car on the N2.
So far x-rays showed the adult kite had sustained pelvic injuries, but Geoff was worried about neurological damage.
‘He has been doing well, but we will keep him with us until he is well enough to be sent to a rehab centre.’
Jimmy the Sparrowhawk and the Lanner falcon were sent off to the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary in Camperdown, where they will receive the best possible treatment before being assessed for release.
