Barry
13-06-2006, 10:47 AM
The Scottish SPCA has contacted me today about a wild buzzard. It was handed in by a member of the public who say they have just found it. Behaviour and appearance suggest it is wild, however it will not eat rabbit but gobbles down DOC's. It has been inspected by a vet who suggested it is in fine health. The suggestion is the concerned member of the public has kept it in poor conditions for a while, realised their error and handed it in with severe feather damage and an appetite for chicks. The bird is coming here this afternoon for me to see if imping is a possibility. The vet has recommended euthanasia as it would take six months to moult cleanly and the SSPCA has no aviary space.
From what has been described to me imping is going to be a major if not impossible operation. I will not imp for re-release if I am convinced the imping will not allow acceptable flight and last long enough for the bird to survive through a clean natural moult. Euthanasia is kinder than a long slow death due to immobility in the wild.
I have no spare aviary accommodation, so if the imping is a non-starter is there anyone out there who can offer aviary space or re-hab time to get this bird out? I (although there are plenty of buzzards in the world and they often give my eagles a hard time) do not want to see the bird destroyed for lack of space or time so I thought I'd throw this one out to see if anyone can help. Remember though, if this bird has been held since young you may end up having to keep the bird for good. As wild you will not get an A10 for commercial stuff but you can use it for falconry.
Barry.
From what has been described to me imping is going to be a major if not impossible operation. I will not imp for re-release if I am convinced the imping will not allow acceptable flight and last long enough for the bird to survive through a clean natural moult. Euthanasia is kinder than a long slow death due to immobility in the wild.
I have no spare aviary accommodation, so if the imping is a non-starter is there anyone out there who can offer aviary space or re-hab time to get this bird out? I (although there are plenty of buzzards in the world and they often give my eagles a hard time) do not want to see the bird destroyed for lack of space or time so I thought I'd throw this one out to see if anyone can help. Remember though, if this bird has been held since young you may end up having to keep the bird for good. As wild you will not get an A10 for commercial stuff but you can use it for falconry.
Barry.