Treatment of American Kestrel/Falcão Quiriquiri/Falco sparverius

Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Central Western Brazil

INTRODUCTION

If I had a coin for every time I had to explain the differences between hawks and falcons I would be a millionaire. If I could find somebody willing to listen to, and implement, improvements that I could suggest for raising the standards of health care of the wildlife casualties that I see locally, then for each suggestion heeded I got a pound I would be a billionaire.

Maybe it’s the heat. Or the fact that I am still an undergraduate and feel reluctant to say exactly what I think to certain staff I don’t know very well here at the veterinary hospital. As a mature student, experience has taught me to err upon the side of caution, something I like to call social intelligence.  I get the impression that that at this particular stage of my course free speech has been curtailed. No; if I truly thought I would be listened to I would speak my mind. Instead I have decided it would be better to save my energy and my breath.

But let’s think about this for a minute, just you and I. My approach of the type ‘slowly, slowly, catch a monkey’. There are some things I can’t improve for these wildlife casualties.

FACILITIES

 The facilties is one. I had thought it was world-wide common knowledge as set out by every animal charity from here to Timbuktu that minimal cage sizes for birds should permit them to spread their wings. Anything smaller is too cramped. We had an American Kestrel brought in this week. The cage it is in might just be adequate for its wing span. For the purposes of comparison the Roadside Hawks that are brought in on a regular basis have a wing span that is too long.  They are unable to spread their wings. Easily solved by relocating them to what I call the ‘Small-Eared Dog Block’.  More than adequate space there, but removable, artificial-turf-covered perches would have to be put there as otherwise the patients would be forced to use the concrete floor as a perch. Not good as it could bring on pododermatitus – bumblefoot.

THE LITERATURE

As undergraduates of veterinary medicine we are constantly told that we have an obligation to study. I can safely say that I have studied the subject of today’s blog, the American Kestrel Falco.  Suitable sources of information for you if you are new to American Kestrels.

FOR AMERICAN KESTRELS AS WORKING FALCONRY BIRDS

v  Mullenix, M. 2002. American Kestrels in Modern Falconry. Western Sporting, Ranchester, Wyoming.  

By using this book I had a lot of fun with applying falconry techniques to training a brood of American Kestrels that the Brazilian authorities left with me. In fact, it was the first time I had the opportunity to use falconers’, instead of austringers’, techniques, on one of my projects here in Brazil. For the reader that doesn’t know, people who train falcons are falconers. Those who train hawks and eagles are austringers.

FOR AMERICAN KESTREL ECOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION

v  Ferguson-Lees, J, Christie, D A, Franklin K, Mead D and Burton P. 2001. Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm London.

I remember my Dad buying this for me at a National Trust property and being angry because he had not been able to arrange discount due to a defaced cover for me.  

BOOKS ON VETERINARY ASPECTS, AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN CAPTIVITY AND IN THE WILD.

Bird, D M, Bildstein, K L, Barber D R and Zimmerman A. 2007. Raptor Research and Management Techniques. Hancock House Publishers, BC, Canada.

Cooper, J E. 2002. Birds of Prey: Health and Disease. Third edition. Blackwell publishing, Oxford, UK.  


HANDLING

One of the funnier things I see is a result of people not knowing what an American Kestrel is capable of. The handlers here see them in their little cages and immediately feel the need to reach for some leather gauntlet more suíted to handling a Harpy Eagle than a 70g falcon. All you need is a cloth to throw over the head so that it cannot see anything and then it will calm down.

USE IN FALCONRY

Featured in the photo are American-Kestrel-size home-made anklets, swivels and mews jesses. The book listed explains in excellent detail the role this lovely little falcon can play in falconry, but I cannot see it providing much game for the pot, somehow.  Still, I had tremendous fun flying the chicks the Brazilian authorities passed to me.

CONCLUSION

The American Kestrel is a beautiful bird and a pleasure to be around.  Note that it can be identified by its twin black stripes on the side of the head.  I look forward to working with the one that has been brought in to our hospital.  I see my role as one of learning about the clinical and surgical side of avian medicine as it relates to wild birds and raptor casualties in particular. And if I can apply falconry techiques to speeding along the recovery of this species post-treatment at every opportunity I get, I will be a happy man.