I've just rescued a buzzard, I hope!!

[mandyballantyne]

Hi All,

We descovered a young Buzzard in the reads on the canal about 2 hours ago, he was looking a bit stressed. After calling the RSBP, SSPCA etc etc we were told no one was available for hours and it was getting dark.

Went home for the cat basket and towel and after 10 mins of trying got him onto the bank and got him home,

Put him in the shed, all tools etc scattered now in garden and left him quietly with water and some meat.

I have some experince with rescueing wild animals and know stress can be the biggest problem so hope he will be ok til morning,

He has no obvious signs of ingury but put up very little resistance, just hope that the safe area, quite, food etc see him through the night. He tands about 12" tall so not too little and had stood up straight by the time I got him home.

I will update you tomorrow if he surrvives......

Mandy

[serenity]

have my fingers crossed all goes well mandy

[mandyballantyne]

Thanks Serinity,

I really want to check on him but know that the stress would add to his problems, keep you posted, Mandy

P.S. Johnny tok some pics of him before he realised he was injured if he survives I will post them he really looks magnifasant

[Waffler]

I also have everything crossed for a positive outcome.

[Alice]

Oh Mandy, I really do hope your buzzard chick will be OK. What a shame you couldn't get more help from the professionals who are supposed to be available to deal with these problems - even if only at the level of advice. It can be very difficult to do the right thing for wild animals, especially without expert advice. I do hope all goes well and will check to see how you get on.
PS Hope you had a brill holiday in Turkey.

[mandyballantyne]

Thanks Wafler and Alice,

I will leave him for tonight, I have done what I can for him so far. I have worked for the rear breeds society, vets and a country park specialsing in native breeds all be it many years ago and know he has what he needs.

The fact he was so still when I finaly got to him worries me but if he had saye in the water he would not of surrvived the night. I know aq vet who specialises in birds one of the best in Europe so will call him tomorrow all being well.


M

[bramble]

What a kind thing to do. Do so hope he survives after your kind deed. Keep us posted.

[TonyF]

Hi Mandy

Hope all works out well for the bird. We have them in abundance down here and I love sitting on the terrace watching them wheel in groups above the valley - they're so common as almost to be ordinary.

I love them, they're so graceful in flight and hope this one makes it. Has it shed it juvenile colours yet or is it still very light coloured?

[bubblewrap]

Hi Mandy

Hope all works out well for the bird. We have them in abundance down here and I love sitting on the terrace watching them wheel in groups above the valley - they're so common as almost to be ordinary.

I love them, they're so graceful in flight and hop[es this one makes it. Has it shed it juvenile colours yet or is it still very light coloured?

One of the things I enjoy most when I go to Crete on holiday, is watching the Honey Buzzards circling close to my SIL's house (1500' up)in the hills.
I have seen as many as five at the same time.

[Earthbabe]

Hiya mandy and well done for your actions yesterday. It was good for the buzzard that someone with some knowledge found him. I hope he has survived the night and it now fortified and raring to go (so to speak).

Bless you.

[denise]

Well done you, I hope is alive and fighting fit. i will watch out for your posts.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi Mandy,

How's he doing now? Anything broken? I'm sorry you couldn't reach anyone to help you rescue the buzzard, both the RSPB and SSPCA are charities and very often have no 'on call' staff to deal with these kinds of things. btw RSPB is an environmental charity rather than an animal rescue charity and have no facilites to take in sick or injured birds, the SSPCA is the organisation that deal with this. If there was anyone from the RSPB available, they would have done exactly what you did - someone would have taken it home in a box to be kept quiet overnight with some water.

If he recovers, PLEASE be careful of his talons, when cornered or scared, birds of prey will always tend to use their claws rather than the hooked beak, and you'll be surprised at their reach!! Get those gardening gloves on, or even better, gauntlets!

[mandyballantyne]

Hi All,

Thanks for your kind thoughts, I am glad to say he is still alive. Eating loads and looking a lot better. Still very quite and not trying to defend himself at all. I can't see anything wrong with him but he does not want to fly off.

SSPCA will be hear shortly so he will get the attention he needs, I will post a picture of him shortly.

Mandy

[Alice]

Brilliant news Mandy. Hope it all works out successfully. Glad SSPCA are able to come out but I'm sure you're doing a grand job there. Please do keep us posted. Good luck.

[Flummery]

Well done. I hope all continues to go well. We had 2 buzzards circling high above out house last week. A wonderful sight.