With patients coming and going in our Raptor Hospital, we are continuing to ring as many as we can before they are released, in order to monitor the effectiveness of their rehabilitation with us.
We invited Dr Hugh Hanmer from the BTO to come and supervise our team while they train to ring Raptors themselves. Our Education Officer, Susan, has been a bird ringer for years, but isn’t yet licenced to ring Raptors, whereas Jess only started her training in the last year or so but has the advantage of years of handling these feisty birds.
Barn Kestrels
Jess and Susan with the two young Kestrels
These two Kestrels came in at only a few days old, after a farmer disturbed their nest in the hay barn. We were concerned that they might imprint on us, as they required 24/7 care for the first week or so. Thankfully, as soon as they were able to feed themselves, we moved them into one of our smaller Hospital aviaries and adopted a hands off approach, and we’re pleased to report that they have since become rather wild! These two appear to be a male and female, as the smaller individual already has some blue-grey feathers coming through on his rump.
Extra Kestrel
A very fluffy and grumpy Kestrel, now ringed.
This Kestrel arrived in the morning, and once it had had a good feed, was deemed to be well enough to ring and be put in the aviary with the other Kestrels. Although a bit younger than the other two, it has a wilder temperament which should help our two learn how to behave, and stand this one in good stead once released.
Little Owls
This Little Owl was very well behaved receiving a ring.
We have had several young Little Owls this year, all found in a starving condition (likely caused by the extremely dry weather we’re experiencing). Hugh and Susan ringed 3 Little Owls on a previous visit, so the remaining Owlets were ringed on this occasion and they’ve all been put into an aviary to build confidence and fitness before moving to a hack pen.
Tawny Owl
This adult Tawny Owl was hit by a car and had concussion. It is now ready to release so was ringed before being returned to the area near where it was found. We were able to age it as a second year bird (hatched last year) but noted that there was a distinct lack of markings on the tail.