News Stories

AVS teams up with RSPCA in the treatment and release of 'oiled' peregrine falcon.

July 2010

A wild peregrine falcon was found grounded by staff at Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead covered head to toe in oil.
With feathers matted together and unable to fly, the bird was also in danger of ingesting the toxic oil as it frantically tried to preen away the offending substance.
RSPCA animal collection officers were alerted and immediately transferred the falcon to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange wildlife hospital, Nantwich. Veterinary nurse Sarah Goodwin and supervisor Andrew Smith stabilized the traumatized bird with fluids and supportive medication before painstakingly removing the oil. After nearly 2 hours of gentle bathing with a mild detergent the peregrine was then treated to a blow-dry restoring his plumage to its former glory. (Fig 1.) An X-ray confirmed there were no obvious injuries but the bird then proved to be an awkward patient by refusing to eat in captivity and when approached in the hospital aviary would roll over apparently unable to fly. After 24 hours staff became concerned as being in the middle of the breeding season this adult male peregrine would likely have young to feed, making a quick release was crucial for their survival. Releasing such an aerial hunter with even the slightest flight impairment would however be a death sentence by starvation. Avian Veterinary Services located at Gauntlet bird of prey centre were consulted and asked to re evaluate the bird. Avian Vet and falconer Richard Jones, having spent 4 years at a bird of prey rehabilitation facility at the University of Minnesota is used to dealing with such tricky patients. With a bit of patience and encouragement the little falcon soon began tucking into a diet of quail, restoring his taxed body reserves. The next step was to test his flight abilities. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal on the planet but their sometimes in excess of 200mph dives or 'stoops'are only possible with the aid of gravity. They initially climb in wide circles or by riding thermals to great heights, before folding in their wings and dropping like a stone on their unsuspecting quarry. From a standing start however, they are relatively clumsy and need a 'run up' of sometimes a few hundred feet to get going. As such in the relative confines of an aviary, realizing they cannot get up to speed when approached by a predator, (in this case man!) their only defence is to flip on their backs presenting their razor sharp talons to the enemy. Richard felt that this may have been the case here and so went back to an ancient falconry technique called creance flying to test his theory. During early training falconry birds are flown on a long light line, which in falconry terminology is called a 'creance'. The creance does not impede flight but basically keeps them on a long leash for their own safety as an untrained bird that has yet to learn to hunt or return to the falconer for food is unlikely to survive in the wild. This technique is also a useful tool in assessing the flight of wild injured birds of prey and to regain fitness prior to release. Gauntlet owner Graham Bessant and head falconer Joe Curry (Fig. 2.) took on the task of creance flying the peregrine by initially attaching removable soft leather straps 'jesses' to the falcons ankles. These in turn are attached to the creance line via a metal swivel. While attaching the equipment, the bird is 'hooded' as shown which blindfolds the bird and has a calming effect (for a wild bird 'what you can't see can't hurt you!') (Fig. 3) The hood is removed and the bird is gently released. (Fig. 4) Sensing freedom the peregrine took off like a bullet and when the team were happy he was using both wings symmetrically to gain height he was given the all clear and happily signed off for release. An RSPCA inspector was standing by to take him back to his territory. When the transport box was opened back at Cammell laird, after taking in his surroundings, off he went without missing a wing beat, hopefully to go and secure a meal for his waiting babies!