VETS at a Camden animal hospital hope a powerful peregrine falcon will be back in the skies soon.
The bird of prey has been receiving treatment at the University of Sydney Avian Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital at Brownlow Hill since March 21 after being discovered by a resident in their shed at Tahmoor earlier that day.
The falcon was taken to the hospital by staff from Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services.
The bird’s story follows the tale of another peregrine falcon who was treated at the hospital after becoming impaled on a television antenna in 2009 in Bradbury.
Hospital director Associate Professor David Phalen said the bird had most likely had a scrap with another bird of prey because it had remnants of talons in its wings and back.
“It (the falcon) was quite thin and was refusing to fly,” he said.
He said the bird had been treated with antibiotics and had wounds treated with stitches before being allowed to recuperate.
He said the falcon would remain at the hospital for another two weeks before going into rehabilitation to prepare it for a return to the wild.
“These animals are like Olympic athletes and if you can imagine putting a prime athlete in a cage for a week, they need to get back to peak performance to catch their prey,” he said.
“I’m very happy with the progress this bird has made.” Associate Professor Phalen said peregrine falcons were found regularly in southwest Sydney and had been seen around cities as they fed off possums and small rodents.
He said peregrine falcons fed mostly on other birds such as ducks and were found around the world.
They can reach speeds up to 320km/h in a dive.
Associate Proffesor Phalen said the hospital had treated three peregrine falcons for various injuries in the past four years.
MacArthur Chronicle
