Shot Birds of Prey

Female Red kite found downed at Low Marishes , x rayed and she had been illegally shot gun shot. She faired well, they are tricky to look after, need to keep those wonderful feathers in good condition.

Here she being released by Jack Ashton-Booth with Robert Fuller taking this lovely picture. Always good to get one back especially after shooting.

An adult Buzzard was brought in with gun shot wounds to the wing. The wing was broken in 2 places and was expertly pinned by Mark Naguib vet at Battleflatts Vets, Stamford bridge, York. It was tricky to get the bones aligned and to keep the bird quiet and settled whilst the bones healed. All went well and the bird was released back. Sadly shot and persecuted birds of prey are far too common in these parts.

This beautiful Peregrine was brought in by Helen RSPCA ACO found under power lines in East Yorkshire. He had a broken wing and was examined by Mark Naguib , vet who pinned the wing with the hope of getting this wonderful bird flying again.

The bird was kept in a quiet shed in a raptor rescue intensive care box, he fed well ,took his antibiotics and was rested there for a month. The pins were removed and now he needed to be flown to get fit again before release. Charlie Heap of the National Bird of Prey Centre at Duncombe Park, Helmsley offered to fly him so he could regain his fitness.

Charlie and his team did a great job of getting him fit and he was ready for release. Mark Naguib and I took him back to where he was found and he was released back to his own territory. Brought a tear but not for long , wonderful to see him go. My grateful thanks to Mark Naguib and the vets and nurses at Battlefatts vets at Stamford Bridge and to Charlie and his team at Helmsley. Team work and what a team and what a result.

I was called out by NYP to attend an injured adult sow badger rolled up tight in the egg laying compartment of a small hen hut. Liam Pointon from Haxby York had shot the captive animal 4 times with an air rifle and then clubbed her and bragged she still wasn't dead. It was a dark winter Saturday night and the badger was difficult to extract. I got her home and she was x rayed by Mark and her eye ball had to be removed . She coped well in rehab and thankfully regained fitness and was quietly released back to her home territory. Liam Pointon was taken to court and received the palrty sentence of 150 hours community service after not turning up to court and being arrested. This Buzzard was found at Westerdale on the North York Moors which is a National Park. The bird had barely left its nest and had been shotgun shot and caught in an illegal fenn / pole trap. It had to be put to sleep. Anyone who is aware of these illegally set traps left out in the open then please get in touch with me of PC Jez Wamlsley the Wildlife Crime Officer at Malton. Releasing some Goldfinches this week.