De Mortel - Netherlands

[Joyce]

I just read the news on CMNH that Carly posted...figured it was posted here as well. S2 and Pa were watched around the world the year she took over as the female. Pa became Super-Pa and his attentiveness to those two eyases Faith and Hope was phenominal. Many of us saw S2 come into her own. One thing that Donna left out of her story, is that it was Mother's Day when S2 bonded with the two eyases.

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTgx42H80IA#

She was a good mother and a good teacher. If she can't be returned to the wild, I bet she would make an excellent captive foster mom.

It makes me so mad to hear this.  It is hard to take when nature takes it course with peregrines that we follow online such as Hillary and little Pilate in Ohio, but this is totally senseless!  And now Pa is alone again...

[Donna]

I remember that so well Joyce. S2 started picking up sweet nothings in the nest to try and feed them. It was bittersweet!! That poor girl. 

[Carol P.]

   This is horrible news.  Poor S2.  I just don't understand, never will.  Hope she recovers and is able to return to the wild and Pa.  Be well S2.   

[jeanne]

How could anyone do this?  Poor gal   I hope that she will be able to fly freely again

[chlosmom]

whatever idiot did this needs to face a firing squad of gun-toting
raptors and see just how much fun it is to be shot   
 

[chlosmom]

whatever idiot did this needs to face a firing squad of gun-toting
raptors and see just how much fun it is to be shot   
 

[Kris G.]

Posted on BCAW today:

Successful surgery female peregrine on gunshot wound

GEMERT - The female peregrine falcon who made De Mortel famous through the webcams of the “beleef de Lente�, was successfully operated on a gunshot wound to her wing. She was found injured Thursday in the municipality of Gemert.
Since 2007, millions of people follow the living of the falcon during the breeding season through the cameras of the “beleef de Lente�. This is the webcam project of Netherlands Society for the Protection of Birds (BVN).

"Complicated operation"
According to vet Caroline Hommers it was a rather complicated operation. The small ball was in the right wing of the animal and the bones in the same wing were also broken at several places. "We first removed the bullet and then the wound was closed. It was a steel sphere with a diameter of about two to three millimeters. Then we external y fixed the wing. This means it is fixed using two pens inside and the outside of the wing. These pins must stay four to six weeks. "

difficult moment during the operation
According to Hommers there was a difficult moment during the operation. "When we got the falcon from the anesthesia, she just stopped breathing. Fortunately, we could recover easily from this. This is a signal of stress from the animal. Now we hope she shall eat and strengthens. After four to six weeks we make an x-ray to see if she can go back into the wild.

S2
The female peregrine falcon is called S2. which refers to the ring number on her leg. She first came into view in 2007. Who shot the female, it is still unclear. The Vogelwerkgroep Gemert has reported this to the police, which is investigating the case. The ball is transferred. The killing of birds of prey is strictly prohibited in the Netherlands .


 

[Donna]

This is great news and I hope she makes a full recovery. Has this ever happened before, releasing a Falcon who has had surgery on the wing?  I say it was a "PUNK" shot for the fun of it or a Pigeon fancier who's pissed off at the falcons for killing their pigeons. Who ever did this...MUST be punished but of course, they will never find the idiot. 

[Kris G.]

This is great news and I hope she makes a full recovery. Has this ever happened before, releasing a Falcon who has had surgery on the wing?  I say it was a "PUNK" shot for the fun of it or a Pigeon fancier who's pissed off at the falcons for killing their pigeons. Who ever did this...MUST be punished but of course, they will never find the idiot. 

I wondered about the possibility of release after an injury like this too.  I guess maybe it's a wait and see?

[Annette]

 

[MAK]

  I shall remain hopeful for S2 to return to the wild and live out her life in freedom! 

[carla]

This is great news and I hope she makes a full recovery. Has this ever happened before, releasing a Falcon who has had surgery on the wing?  I say it was a "PUNK" shot for the fun of it or a Pigeon fancier who's pissed off at the falcons for killing their pigeons. Who ever did this...MUST be punished but of course, they will never find the idiot. 

I wondered about the possibility of release after an injury like this too.  I guess maybe it's a wait and see?

That's what I think ,wait and see....

[Kris G.]

CMNH posted this from another Forum about S2:

Positive News About S2

de Betty Dam, el Sábado, 30 de julio de 2011 a las 19:56

"Important is that she keeps eating. I do expect so, because she was clear and not afraid after the operation. THE CHANCE OF BEING BROUGHT BACK INTO NATURE IS BIG, according to Hommers (the vet). But we have to wait and see for the moment."

The outer fixation has to remain for the coming 4 to 6 weeks. "Then we will make a control-foto to see if the bones have recovered. If this is the case, we will take it away". The Perigrine shall have to get used to the new situation for a while. "It is quite a weight that´s hanging down her wing now".

[Donna]

Poor S2! 

[margaret]

I shall remain hopeful for S2 to return to the wild and live out her life in freedom! 

Yeah, I second that emotion!