WAYNESBORO - A peregrine falcon picked up from a hotel balcony at the Va. Beach Oceanfront is being treated at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
The falcon was recovered by Animal Control officers after a severe thunderstorm on August 6, taken to a rehabber overnight and then driven to the Center on Tuesday, said spokesman Randy Huwa.
The person in the hotel room looked out after the storm and saw the soaking wet falcon sitting on the balcony.
It had a band on its leg, so officials checked the number and determined it had been treated for several months earlier this year and released June 6 at Grandview Nature Preserve in Hampton.
Wildlife Center veterinarians aren't sure why the bird was able to be picked up, speculating that it could have been disoriented from the storm and was rescued before it had a chance to fly off. Officials say it hasn't lost weight and no fractures or wounds were found in an initial check.
X-rays taken Wednesday showed the bird has no fractures.
It was moved to one of the Center's outdoor flight pens to check its ability to fly. It was only able to fly about a foot off of the ground and was barely able to make it to the two-foot high A-frame perches in the enclosure,said Huwa.
The bird will be watched closely to see if it can be determined why it's not flying.
WVEC
