Peregrine Falcon Returned Home To Seaford

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service has released a rare Peregrine Falcon back into the wild after it was rescue on the beach at Splash Point Seaford back in May.

“The bird proved to be difficult to access and a kayaker who spotted him kindly paddled round and scooped him up into the kayak and brought it round to safety whilst our rescuers were on route to collect him” said Lead Casualty Manager Katie Nunn Nash.

On arrival back to WRAS’s Casualty Centre the falcon assessed by WRAS’s vet Lourdes Cortes Saez and found to have a broken wing, but was otherwise in very good condition.

“After X-rays and a full assessment it was agreed that the fractured stood a good chance of healing and of him making a full recovery. The wing was splinted and his treatment started” said Katie.

Rehabilitation of birds like Peregrine Falcons is not as easy other some other birds of prey like buzzards due to the importance of the accuracy and speed of flight needed for them to catch their prey.

“We rarely see these birds at the rescue centre, and the two we have had previously have not been in a good condition and not survived their injuries sadly, but this one stood a good chance. Wanting the best for this bird and to ensure its long term survival after release we would need to erect a larger flight pen” said Katie.

After some research and conversations with other rescue centres plans were quickly made and within weeks a larger flight aviary was erected not far from WRAS’s Casualty Centre,  for the falcon’s rehabilitation.

The falcon spent several weeks at WRAS’s Casualty Centre with it’s wing splinted and strapped and was eventually allowed to exercise the wing more and give extra space before eventually being moved into the outdoor flight pen. Day by day the falcon’s strength improved and was soon flying well.

The falcon was returned to Seaford and released where it flew strongly.

“We have an amazing team at WRAS. Our staff and volunteers are so dedicated. With the crisis facing our wildlife currently and how depressing it has been seeing gull after gull dying or having to be euthanized this has been a boost for us all” said Trevor Weeks MBE founder of East Sussex WRAS.

East Sussex WRAS is one of the biggest wildlife hospitals in the South East and has plans to build a new Casualty Centre in the heart of East Sussex and has some funds already put aside to help with this. The charity currently need an extra £150,000 to hit its first target so they can procure land and start the next step in establishing a new centre, but this will be just the first stage in the work. The final costs of buying land, building a centre, installing veterinary caging and equipment, building and erecting outdoor facilities as well as installing utilities and the planning and development is expecting to eventually costs in the region of £2-3 million.

Anyone interested in donating to help can make a donation at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/eastsussexwildlifecrisis

Or post a donation to East Sussex WRAS, PO Box 2148, Seaford BN25 9DE.

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