A YOUNG MALE PEREGRINE FALCON

An immature male peregrine falcon was admitted to Wings of Wonder in early October. This young falcon was rescued and transferred by the Manistee DNR after being found laying injured in a building that was being renovated. During the initial exam it was apparent that the falcon had a fracture of the right humerus, which is the bone between the shoulder and the elbow. Surgery was scheuduled with Dr. Eric Peck, Northern Michigan Veterinary Hospital (www.traversanimalhospital.com).
A steel pin was inserted into the bone during the
surgery to aid in the alignment and subsequent repair of this fracture. The wing was splinted and the falcon is now recovering at WOW.


Two weeks post surgery the wing was xrayed which revealed a nice callus forming over the fracture area. Hopefully the pin will be removed in another 2 weeks, and the falcon can begin to gently exercise that wing. He is a delightful patient; being very calm and greatly appreciative of his fresh quail dinner each day. Because of the severity of the injury, this youngster has a long road ahead of him to achieve a full recovery. Peregrine falcons are very fast and agile fliers...reaching speeds of over 200 mph as they dive, or stoop, for their prey. Their wings, muscles, tendons and skeletal systems all need to work perfectly in order for them to survive out in the wilds. Time will tell whether this youngster will ever fly free once again.

our newest patient

September 10, 2009

Our newest patient is a young Red Tailed hawk. This is a first year bird, meaning that he was hatched this year. He was found yesterday alongside a road near Bear Lake, Michigan. A concerned citizen spotted the bird and rescued him off the road. The young hawk was admitted to Wings of Wonder the following day. I decided to first bathe this hawk because it was immediately apparent that he was loaded with parasites commonly referred to as "flat flies". These flies truly live up to their name...they are about the size of house flies but are very, very flat so they can easily maneuver between feathers as they take their blood meals. They are nasty little pests and this bird had a lot of them. After his bath he was weighed and examined. His weight was 885 grams...a bit thin. Normally this bird should weigh closer to 1000 grams. The exam revealed a fractured ulna bone in his left wing, between his wrist and his elbow. It is quite likely this hawk had been hit by a car.
I transferred the bird into a cozy pet crate, where he immediately stepped up on the perch. He was then fed several large rodents ...a nice surprise to be "served" rodents on a platter!
Tomorrow the hawk will be examined and x-rayed by one of our attending veterinarians. These x-rays will determine whether he is a surgical candidate or not. If the fracture does not involve a joint, and if the affected bones are not splintered or shattered and can withstand the necessary medical proceedures, then we may choose to have the surgery performed. Not every patient admitted to Wings of Wonder becomes a rehab candidate. Unfortunately we can not save them all.
This has truly been a very, very busy week with Red Tailed Hawks. Over the past hand full of days we have admitted 7 of these youngsters. Not all have lived....some were admitted at such critically low weights or were so severly injured that there was not much we could do for them. Autumn is a difficult time of the year for these inexperienced raptors. They are are now out on their own without parents bringing them food. Besides perfecting their new flying skills, they must also learn to hunt and kill with efficiency. Research has shown that 75% of young raptors die before they can complete their first winter.
If you come across a raptor in distress, please don't hesititat to contact Wings of Wonder.

Sept 9 Eagle Release, Leelanau County

On September 5, 2009 an immature female bald eagle was released back into the wilds. A crowd of about 350 folks gathered to watch this bird fly free. The eagle had been found a week earlier by Chris and Tyler, young men from Lake Ann, who had been watching several young eagles flying together over Cook Lake. A while later Chris and Tyler found one of the youngsters laying unconscious on the ground near the lake. The boys rescued the eagle, carrying her out of the woods and into their car, and then quickly transported her to the Wings of Wonder hospital. It is believed that this young eagle had collided with another eagle up in the sky and was knocked out, falling to the ground, where she laid unconscious. She could have easily been killed by another predator if Chris and Tyler had not found her. After a day in the Wings of Wonder hospital the eagle was moved to a 100 foot outdoor aviary where she completed her recovery. Six days later she was ready to go free, and was released back in the general area where she had been found.
Photos by Julie and Dave Christiansen