American Kestrel release
Brought to Tucson Wildlife Center after being hit by a car, a radiograph confirmed a carpal fracture for this little falcon, an American kestrel. The carpals are small bones in the wrist area of the wing, and a fracture could severely impact the kestrel’s ability to fly and hunt effectively.
Before proceeding with the delicate task of reducing and splinting the kestrel’s fractured bone, TWC’s wildlife care team carefully slipped a small leather hood over his head. The hood … a technique borrowed from centuries-old falconry practices … gently blocked the kestrel’s vision, allowing him to remain calm and less responsive to the surrounding activity. With the kestrel’s instinct to flee suppressed, our veterinarian could focus on the exam, anesthesia, x-rays, and the precise work of aligning the bone, ensuring the bird’s safety and comfort throughout the procedure.
Once the bone had sufficiently healed, the kestrel was moved to a large outdoor enclosure to reacclimate to Tucson’s heat and rebuild muscle strength in his wings. In preparation for release, our patient’s care team observed his flight performance to ensure the bone had healed correctly and could withstand the stresses of flight. We are happy to report that this kestrel fully recovered from his carpal fracture and has been returned to the wild. If you would like to help patients like this American kestrel, click this link to donate:
Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon by clicking on the Amazon Wish List button below. We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
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