Why I hate some people

[Falcon]

At the refuge we got a call in about a baby kestrel. The call was made by a man who spotted his neighbor keeping the baby as a pet (absolutely illegal! Even with a license, in no way is a wild raptor a pet!). I contacted the closest law department and was able to get a cop with me with a search warrent. The family handed over the baby kestrel to the refuge, but when I got the chance to closely examine it was when I was disgusted.

There was a large fracture on the ankle, causing the bone to stick out. The bones were flexible and bent with each movement his droppings were green, showing that it was starving so much that the body was starting to ingest the liver. Apparently the family fed it hamburger, which is human processed (containing negative chemicals), lack fur, bones and feathers (to clean out the crop), and gives no calcium (causing the bones to be so delicate). Lack of vitamin D also contributed to the terrible bones.

The family is being sued by the wildlife federation because of the illegal holding and barbaric condition it was in. Their trial is next weekend.

Today we took x-rays on the legs and found that it actually had 5 fractures (3 in the right and 2 in the left). When the bone of a bird touches air, it dies immediately, there was nothing we could do for that fracture and we pinned the one above it which would hopefully reshape the tendons around the area. The other three were folding fractures and all we can do for those is splint it and hope for the best.

Because of what those people did this baby kestrel probably will to go through it's entire life unable to fully make the use of his legs, making him unreleasable. The worst part about this is that so many other people do the same thing and get away with it.

[Kateykat]

That's horrible! I can't belive someone would be that cruel to a living creature. Now that poor little baby has to suffer the rest of its life because of that dumb person.
Makes me soo mad!

[Graehstone]

Please let us know what the consequences were for the folks that did that if you are able to find out after the trial.

[LivingFiction]

That's just horrifying.

[Tiki]

Poor little guy! I hope they stick it to those horrible people at the trial!

[Beaks]

They do the same thing here all the time and actually believe they are doing a good thing.

I hope they fry.

Raptors are easy to imprint and have needs that a parrot or other bird does not so find a rehabber if you come across one that is injured or ill quickly.

These birds are meant to be free and hunt and suck as pets, Birds such as owls stink and will make your house stink also, they bite and can drive a 1 to 3 inch talon all the way through your arm without even trying or rip out a chunk of meat big enough to fill a shot glass.

Most people don't know that an owl will expell what it cannot digest after approx 12 to 24 hours so you can't keep feeding them pinkies or adult mice and expect them to live long if they cant expell a pellet(an owl will eat even if it is full and will plug up big time if not fed right)

I wouldnt even eat hamburger so why give it to a bird all it is is fat with a little meat and as far as nutrition goes it is worthless.

Those people need a boot in their butt any avian vet will treat a raptor at no charge so there is no excuse.

John

[Franciscus]

Keep us up to date. I hope they get nailed to the wall.

[basketbagley]

I feel so bad for this little fellow! Yes, please let us know the outcome of the trial. How cruel!

[fatma]

That`s horrible!

[Falcon]

John,
You are absolutely right. I work all the time with birds that can easily go through my forearm, but in no way can I do this without giving them respect and comfort. If I keep out of their space, move slowly, let them see clealy what I intend to do (feed, replace a perch, remove old food, clean...) and let them move how they like, then it's no big ordial for either of us.

Many people don't realise the power these birds have, many can go into a dive and reach forces several times deadlier than a bullet. A friend of mine who does falconry in the Arctic, uses some of his birds to hunt wolves.

By keeping it as a pet is disrespectful to it. In rehab we only keep the ones that are unreleasable and that would be in danger if they were to go into the wild, but in no way are they pets. Some do, however, create special bonds with people. With falconry, it's offering the bird a different lifestyle, same hunting and working hard for food, but with the rewards of food and protection and shelter. This also is not considered a pet.

Raptors don't like the company of others, so when a person enters a mew of a wild raptor then the bird considers it a bad thing, falconry teaches the bird to tollerate the presence of another. These birds are not social, and you can't hug and kiss them like any other pet, they don't desire affection or attention. In the wild they are mostly alone besides for mating season and if there are babys to tend to. There are a few raptors that aren't like that (harris) that do like being with others but desire no other interaction than presence only.