PATIENT: Red-tailed Hawk, #11-1876

LOCATION OF RESCUE: Amherst County, Virginia

INJURY: Fractured wing

ADMISSION DATE: July 28, 2011

OUTCOME:  Released October 16, 2011

Red-tailed Hawk #11-1876 was found on July 28, 2011 in Amherst County, Virginia.  The hawk was found near the road – rescuers quickly captured the bird and took it to a local veterinarian.  The bird was then transferred to a permitted rehabilitator for stabilization.

On July 30, the Red-tailed Hawk was admitted to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.  Dr. Dave McRuer performed a physical exam and found a fracture in the bird’s left wing.  After taking a set of radiographs to further examine the fracture, Dr. Dave determined that the bird would be a good candidate for surgery.

Two days later, Dr. Miranda pinned the hawk’s wing fracture during a surgical session that lasted several hours.   The surgery went well.

At the end of August, the veterinary team started the ”dynamic destablization” process — slowly removing the various pins and pieces that have anchored the broken bone in place.  On September 1, the hawk was moved to a small outdoor enclosure so that it could begin using its wing a little more.  On September 13, the Red-tailed Hawk was moved into a larger flight pen.

The Wildlife Center team will continue to monitor the hawk’s movement in the larger area before prescribing an exercise program to build the bird’s flight strength.

September 21 update

The Red-tailed Hawk has been flying really well in its enclosure over the past week — so well that a formal exercise program was started on Monday, September 19.  Judging by the bird’s pronounced left wing droop on September 21, it is likely that the hawk over-did it on that first day of exercising.  The staff will be closely monitoring the hawk over the next few days and will provide some pain medication in its food.

September 30 update

The Red-tailed Hawk continues to fly very well in its enclosure.  On Monday, September 26, the hawk finished up its course of anti-inflammatories and the veterinary team continues to monitor for a wing droop.  While the droop is there intermittently, overall the bird seems to be doing quite well and isn’t drooping the wing nearly as much as it was last week.

Exercise and monitoring will continue for the hawk.

October 6 update

On Red-tailed Hawk #11-1876’s last blood draw, the veterinary team found that the bird was positive for plasmodium — a blood parasite.   While the veterinary team are not overly concerned about the low levels of the parasite, they do want to treat the hawk prior to release.  The first dose of an anti-parasitic was given in the hawk’s food on the weekend of October 1.  Another dose of medication will be given on the weekend of October 8.

In the meantime, the rehabilitation staff have started a more intensive exercise regimen for the hawk and are pushing the bird to fly a bit more.  While the hawk occasionally has a slight left wing droop, it appears to be greatly improved.

The Red-tailed Hawk is scheduled for another blood draw during the week of October 10 to see if the anti-parasitic was effective.

October 11 update

The vet staff caught up Red-tailed Hawk #1876 today for another blood draw to re-check for the plasmodium parasite.  It appears as though the medications did the trick — and the hawk is now parasite free.  On that note, the hawk has been cleared to begin mouse school, one of the final steps in the rehabilitation process.  Once the hawk begins to pass mouse school for a couple of nights, the veterinary team will likely perform additional pre-release blood work.

October 13 update

The Red-tailed Hawk had one more pre-release blood draw today for a chemistry panel — and will have one more night of mouse school.  Wildlife Center staff are currently coordinating with the permitted rehabilitator who initially received and triaged the hawk to make plans for the release.

October 14 update

The Red-tailed Hawk will be released on Saturday, October 15!  A transporter will be picking up the hawk in the afternoon on Saturday and will take the bird back to the rehabilitator who initially stabilized the bird.

October 16 update

The Red-tailed Hawk was caught up for release this morning and transported back to the same area from which it came.  Our volunteer transporter met up with the rehabilitator who originally stabilized the bird and was also able to watch the release.  She reported that the hawk flew off as far as they could see — and it just went beautifully.

Amber, one of the Center’s wildlife rehabilitators, catches up #11-1876 for release:

Photos of the release:

Learn more about Red-tailed Hawks here.

The Wildlife Center depends on the donations of caring individuals for the health care provided to this Red-tailed Hawk – and to about 2,500 wild animals in need each year.  Please help!