On the mend: Kevin the four-week-old kestrel with his cast, courtesy of nurses at St Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital, in BuckinghamshireFor Kevin the baby kestrel, the fall from his nest was a life-threatening disaster. But for the vets, it was a challenge.
With the help of a needle, some wire and a little dental cement, they have rebuilt his broken leg and set him on the road to recovery.
The bird, thought to be about four weeks old, was found in woodland in St Albans, Hertfordshire, earlier this week and taken to St Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital in Buckinghamshire.
There, in a 30-minute operation, vets used a hypodermic needle to pin the broken bone, slender strands of wire to bind it, and the cement to complete the delicate operation.
Hospital founder Les Stocker said: 'Doing the best job possible was very important.
'Kestrels will hover over their prey and then drop, using their legs to grab a mouse or something, so having the use of their legs is absolutely vital.
'They're glorious birds and we didn't want to keep this one in captivity.
'Fortunately this one is a marvellous little bird and started hobbling around almost immediately.
Needle and thread: The handiwork of vets is visible in this X-ray of Kevin, a needle and thin wire holding his tiny leg in place'He's got to grow up first and get his full plumage, but we hope he should be able to back into the wild about September time.'
Now Kevin, as he has been named by staff, is recovering well, with his leg wrapped in padding and covered in a length of purple gauze.
The bird uses his good leg to hold his twice daily meal - chopped mice - while he tucks in using his strong beak.
source: dailymail
Posts
