Cowlick the Kestrel

This is Cowlick, a young male Kestrel who was found on the floor in a barn being licked by cows! It’s possible she had been living and hunting around the farm and happened to get a bit waterlogged after the recent rains. He must have found shelter in the barn but the cows just wanted to check he was ok, it seems!

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He was also suffering from a foot infection called bumblefoot - this is seen a lot more commonly in captive birds with inadequate perching (usually hard flat surfaces can cause it) It's rare to see this condition in wild birds, which suggests he could have been perching / living in the barn for a while, as they usually have a lot of flat surfaces. Failing that it could simply be an old puncture wound that has become infected. He is currently receiving treatment to ensure he is fit for release in the near future.