De Mortel - Netherlands

[Carol P.]

Another step closer......  

Thanks for sharing this good news Alison.

[Donna]

Another step closer......  

Thanks for sharing this good news Alison.

She just keeps getting better and better. Wonderful care they give her. 

[MAK]

    She just has a few more bumps in the road left. S2 will get there, I just know it! Their lives really aren't that much of a stretch from ours. We all have struggles that we have to overcome. Oh yeah, she'll get there and get her freedom to boot!  

[AlisonL]

A new update on S2, and it is another great one:

An update on the peregrine S2

Lierop, Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Everything is going well with the peregrine S2 at the bird rehabilitation facility at Lierop (Someren).

Today we visited the peregrine, and saw that her recovery is going well. She is using both wings well, although she cannot make very long flights because the enclosure is not large enough. This intermediate step was taken so that she may recover from her fractures in small stages.

In view of her progress, she may perhaps be able to move into the large aviary slightly sooner. We will first consult with the veterinarian Caroline Hommers about this.

The peregrine falcon will now be given a prey every two days; by the end of her stay at the Lierop facility, this will be every two or three days.

We hope that at the end of December she will go to the falconer, and will really be able to start working on her return to the wild.

This new bird rehabilitation facility has been entirely made possible by volunteers, with support from sponsors. It is located at the edge of a campsite, in a heavily wooded and peaceful environment. The accommodations are very good and shielded from the environment in order to minimize any disturbance to the birds, so that they can heal in peace.

The facility cares for birds from all over Southeast Brabant who have become sick or injured in some way. Thus, not only are numerous owls and birds of prey, swans and herons brought in, but also smaller types of birds such as pigeons, blackbirds, crows, waterfowl, etc.

Following their recovery, the birds are released at the place where they were found.

The commitment of the volunteers to run the new rehabilitation facility is very important, but donations to it are very welcome to fund this conservation work.

In the video below, it can be seen that both wing tips are being held at the same height above the tail. After she takes off, you can still see that her "elbow" sticks out a little, but after a few seconds, this is once again aligned with her body.



http://www.vwggemertslechtvalk.nl/nieuws/64-update-slechtvalk-s2.html

[MAK]

  Thanks Alison! She is a real beauty!!! 

[Donna]

Great news and what a great pic and video. She looks well. Thank you!

[AlisonL]

S2 has now been moved into the large flight, and she is making wonderful progress.

de Mortel

Things are progressing by leaps and bounds!

Lierop, Sunday, November 27, 2011

On Saturday, November 26, the veterinarian Caroline Hommers visited the peregrine S2.

The peregrine falcon currently resides at the bird refuge at Lierop (municipality of Someren), where she continues to recover from the injuries she sustained on July 27 in the municipality of Gemert.

Caroline took some X-rays, and found that the bones are growing together very well. Once again new bone is growing around the area of the fractures. As the veterinarian Dirk Riemersma indicated previously, bone resorption will take place where the new bone is not needed, and bone will be created in those places where it is necessary. The protruding bone fragment should therefore "disappear" so probably minor surgery will not be required to remove it.

After the X-rays were taken, the peregrine was placed in the large aviary by caregiver Jarno van Bussel. Here she may make longer flights and strengthen her muscles so that she may develop more power in her wing and chest muscles and increase her fitness and endurance.

The peregrine's weight is very good; she is provided with her natural prey, which is very nutritious for her.

It takes little energy to acquire the prey which is provided, so there is a risk of becoming overweight. We have now decided to provide fewer prey, which we expect, in combination with her increased freedom of movement, will result in a better weight. This will be important later in order for the falconer to provide optimal training for her return to the wild. Caroline was so well pleased with her ​​recovery that the peregrine falcon may be allowed to go to the falconer earlier.

If her recovery continues to progress well, then perhaps she may regain her freedom before the next breeding season.

If this happens, then it is expected that she will fly directly to her familiar surroundings at the tower at De Mortel. Here, she will not only become reacquainted with her mate, but will also meet his new partner. It is common, and a natural process, for territorial conflicts to take place around the nest sites of peregrine falcons and other raptors. Moreover, these conflicts are found among all birds; who knows the the battles which take place among the blackbirds in the backyard, or those of the coots in the pond in the park. Territorial battles take place over food and to secure a nesting area, and to disseminate their own genes in order to produce future generations and to preserve the species. It does not matter whether the nest sites are natural or artificial; territorial battles can take place anywhere and everywhere. Because of the many webcams which are located at various bird and animal sites, we are now "live" witnesses. We are now aware that up close, nature can be cruel and harsh, but it is also self-regulating and self-sustaining. The strongest will survive, and in order to produce healthy and strong offspring, the laws of nature also apply around the tower at de Mortel.

It is not our place to make these choices; the peregrine S2 was deprived of this right by the actions of humans and she therefore deserves to return to the wild so that natural selection may take place.

Photographs and a video will be posted later.

VWG Gemert

The large flight:

   

[MAK]

  WOOHOO for S2!!! I hope she gets released for the next breeding season and wins back her mate and territory with no injuries!     Thanks Alison!!! 

[Donna]

What great news. It just gets better with her! Thanks for the update!

[Kris G.]

WOOHOO for S2!!! I hope she gets released for the next breeding season and wins back her mate and territory with no injuries!     Thanks Alison!!! 

                         

[Carol P.]

Thanks for sharing this good news Alison!   

[jeanne]

Great news!  I hope she will be freed -- and can be with Pa or another male!

[Kris G.]

New update on S2 found on BCAW:

Contrary to earlier reports, the peregrine S2 in the short term are released into the wild. The planning that S2 is not before but only after the breeding season will be released.
The Vogelwerkgroep Gemert has taken this decision after consulting with some experts.

Until recently, all aimed at S2 as soon as possible to release from the thought, the sooner the better. We also wanted to make every effort to S2 well before the breeding season to let go to avoid a repetition of 2007. Now Caroline vet Hommen had indicated that the final phase of rehabilitation - the conditioning the falcon by a falconer - almost could begin, we hope that this could still happen.
The consultation with the falconer became clear that the pay (sea and gain confidence) and for training in the corner, with even three months into account. That means that if this would now be started, S2 could be released late February. Although this is just before the breeding season but also in the middle of the mating period. In this time of year when the hormone is at its highest, and peregrine falcons are territorial battles its worst. And that has not exactly been proven itself S2 in 2007. It is estimating that the falconer, how well S2 also will be rehabilitated, they are no match will be against its competitor, and possibly even the same day (literally) will have to come off worst.
His advice is therefore to S2 after the breeding season to let go. In July / August is much less intense territorial behavior and peregrine falcons are much better tolerated in each area. Also there will be fights occur at any time but the chance of losing the falcon without physical damage may leave the battlefield is much bigger.

Peter Geneijgen of the Peregrine Group Netherlands endorses this view and BirdLife Netherlands agrees with this approach.

The Vogelwerkgroep Gemert has decided not to S2 in February, in the heat of battle, but the lions throwing her a better chance to be awarded by the Authority after the breeding season of conscience. This gives us the chance to end its even better physically prepared. S2 and its followers will therefore have to be patient.

This is probably going to give her the best chance of survival but will most likely end her chance to reunite with Pa.   

[Donna]

Wow, I'm happy and sad over this. A very hard decision was made. Probably for the better and yes, I don't think Pa will take her back after this coming breeding season.

Thanks Kris.

[MAK]

  Bummer!