Two Peregrines within a Week: 18-596 & 18-584
On average, BMW admits two Peregrine Falcons per year, often about this time of year. The bird above, 15-596, was found alongside a road near Elgin, OR on Sep 1, 2018, and was presumably hit by a car. There is major swelling in her right wingtip and the major and minor metacarpals are fractured. The wing has been immobilized and we are cautiously optimistic the fractures will heal and the falcon will be releasable.
Peregrine 18-584 was found near Echo, OR on August 26, 2018 with a badly damaged shoulder. The prognosis for her is guarded, but we are trying. She is doing her part by eating all the quail offered, although she is trying to remodel her bandage. As in human medicine, patient compliance is always a challenge!
Great Horned Owl 18-575
Great Horned Owl 18-575 is an amazing bird with an amazing story. She was struck by a vehicle (which must have been traveling at least 60 or 70 miles per hour) on I-84 east of Pendleton. A semi-truck driver spotted her, stopped, backed up, got out of his truck and moved the owl off the pavement. Then he called state police and waited most of an hour for Bob to get there.
An exam revealed fractures of the right radius and ulna, a dislocated left elbow and a large laceration across the owl’s lower back.
The fractures needed to be repaired surgically, but the dislocated elbow could prevent the owl from being able to fly, even if the fractures healed perfectly. A followup radiograph taken five days later showed that the fractures were healing in fairly good alignment, and the elbow was still questionable. After discussing options with Dr. Yackley at Pendleton Veterinary Clinic, we decided not to do surgery. If you look closely at the radiograph below, you can see the row of staples that are holding her torn skin in place - the skin is healing nicely!
Nicole is recovering the owl from anesthesia following the second radiograph.
Sadly, we admitted two more gunshot hawks this week
Cooper’s Hawk 18-585 was found near Othello, WA.
Red-tailed Hawk 18-591 was found southwest of Pendleton.
