Sometimes, our team need to think outside the box when treating birds that are brought into us at the hospital.
This female Sparrowhawk was found underneath a window in a garden and was unable to stand. She had presumably collided with the window while hunting.
Upon arrival, the team found she had an area of swelling on her spine which was preventing her from standing. She was given medication but the team needed a way to support her body without putting too much weight on her legs while she recovered. They made a little sling for her out of a piece of fabric, cutting holes so her feet could touch the floor and hold her in a natural standing position. This was hung inside one of our small hospital boxes to prevent her from crashing around and making her situation worse.
A makeshift sling helped this Sparrowhawk in the early days of her recovery.
She had to be tweezer fed for the first few days which she took to readily thanks to her strong fighting spirit! That bird wanted to live!
The team assessed her daily and she made good progress so that after a week or so she was transferred into an aviary, where they could monitor her for any long term damage.
After several weeks she was deemed fit and well enough to be released and was returned to where she was found.