Health

Question 1

Electrocution is often a preventable death in raptors. To help prevent electrocution a
falconer should. . .
(3 Points)

Answer 1

a. avoid flying near single phase transmission lines with ground wires attached to the top wire
b. avoid flying around transformers with un-insulated pig-tail wires
c. not release their bird if unsure of the danger

Question 2

Aspergillosis affects the. . .

Answer 2

respiratory system

Question 3

Internal parasites affect the. . .

Answer 3

digestive system

Question 4

Frounce affects the. . .

Answer 4

digestive system

Question 5

The bird most likely to suffer from fits is. . .

Answer 5

a Sharp-shinned Hawk

Question 6

Aspergillosis is seen in these three birds:

3 Points

Answer 6

a. Red-tailed Hawks
b. Gyrfalcons
c. Goshawks

Question 7

The most common disease your bird could acquire from a wild mourning dove is . . .

Answer 7

frounce

Question 8

Bumble foot may be caused by . . .

2 Points

Answer 8

a. poor diet and husbandry

b. poorly designed perches

Question 9

Your bird is at the low end of its flying weight, so you feed him a large meal. The next day he still has a crop and foul smelling breath. You recognize this as sour crop. Your first treatment should be . . .

Answer 9

contact your avian veterinarian immediately and inform your sponsor

Question 10

Your bird feaks after eating and warbles on its perch. You notice that he tends to stand on one leg. These behaviors tend to indicate . . .

Answer 10

a content healthy bird

Question 11

Your bird exhibits gradual weight loss, poor appetite, and lethargy. His mutes appear normal and his mouth, throat and feet appear normal. Your bird most likely suffers from . . .
(3 Points)

Answer 11

a. lead poisoning
b. frounce
c. parasites

Question 12

While raising your first eyas you notice it has developed bent legs. He then starts “stargazing”. You could have prevented this problem by . . .
(2 Points)

Answer 12

a. feeding him a diet of whole birds or small mammals

b. supplementing his diet with vitamin D3, calcium, and phosphorus

Question 13

Your bird suffers a broken leg while crashing into thick cover. The small town you live in has no veterinarian with any experience in raptor medicine. The best way to prevent this scenario is . .

Answer 13

locate a raptor veterinarian prior to obtaining a bird

Question 14

An American Kestrel is most likely to die from . . .

Answer 14

poor weight contro

Question 15

Your new passage bird has lice crawling on its feathers. You should . . .

Answer 15

treat the bird with two percent Sevin dust

Question 16

Your bird mutes on your kitchen floor. You notice a white object moving in the mute. You should . . .
(3 Points)

Answer 16

a. take the bird to the vet for a fecal float
b. take the bird to the vet to get suitable treatment for internal parasites
c. call your sponsor and ask for advice

Question 17

A diet of freshly trapped wild pigeon carries with it the risk of . . .
(2 Points)

Answer 17

a. frounce

b. avian herpes virus

Question 18

Cheesy plaques in the mouth, weight loss, and flicking food are signs of. . .

Answer 18

frounce

Question 19

While flying your bird a wild raptor comes in and crabs with your bird. When you retrieve your bird you notice blood on its thigh. You should . . .

Answer 19

apply a topical antibiotic and take your bird to a vet for further evaluation

Question 20

green mute may be indicative of . . .

2 Points

Answer 20

a. a healthy bird that has not eaten for 36 hours

b. aspergillosis

Question 21

A good way to judge a raptor’s condition and health is…

3 Points

Answer 21

a. to maintain daily weight records
b. examine the bird’s mutes
c. note alertness of the bird

Question 22

The best signs and symptoms of a sick hawk are…

5 Points

Answer 22

(1) weight loss,
(2) a “puffy” look around the eyes and listlessness,
(3) disgorging of food from the crop and discolored mutes,
(4) tearing atfood, but flicking it away,
(5) ropey saliva and fetid castings.

Question 23

A diet made up of exclusively of freshly killed rodents would be…

Answer 23

excellent for Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks and American Kestrels

Question 24

True or false: It is best to feed your bird whole prey with intestines intact because intestines are a rich source of vitamins.

Answer 24

False

*Removing the gastro-intestinal tract (“GIT”) will reduce the chances of clostridium infection and will keep your enclosure cleaner and free of maggots. Quail should also be gutted, but it is not necessary to remove the intestines of day-old chicks. Heart, liver, and lungs should be fed.

Question 25

True or false. In a pinch, it is okay to give hamburger to your raptor to hold them over until a proper meal is available.

Answer 25

False

*Never feed hamburger or meat without bone to raptors. The calcium/phosphorus ratio of hamburger is 1:20. The appropriate ratio is 2:1. It only takes one meal of hamburger to create metabolism changes and multiple meals could prove fatal.

Question 26

True or false: A hawk with ice on its feathers should be taken into a warm place until dried off.

Answer 26

True

*A raptor’s need for water in winter can be almost the same as in summer. Some birds will continue to take a daily bath. In subfreezing temperatures, the feathers may ice up after bathing. The bird should be taken inside and dried off. A hair dryer is very useful.

Question 27

True or false. Hypothermia is a below-normal body temperature.

Answer 27

True

*The core body temperature of birds is usually between 102-105 degrees Fahrenheit. A bird’s health is compromised if it falls below the normal range for any period of time

Question 28

True or false: As a general rule, the smaller the species of raptor kept for falconry, the easier it is to maintain and keep in proper health.

Answer 28

False

*Not only are the large species generally easier to train, they are the easiest to keep healthy. The smaller species, especially the Cooper’s Hawk, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the American Kestrel, perform better when keen or sharp-set, but are much more difficult to keep at a fixed flying weight than, for instance, the Peregrine, Goshawk, Gyrfalcon, Red-tailed Hawk or Harris’s Hawk.

Question 29

The morning after a bird is captured, a mass is found under her perch. It is rounded on one end, tapered on the other and is gray and covered with mucous. It appears to be composed of fur, feathers and chips of bone. It is…

Answer 29

a pellet of prey remains normally regurgitated daily by a raptor.

*A pellet (traditionally called a “casting”) is the indigestible portion of a raptor’s meal, formed into a compact mass and disgorged through its mouth. The pellets are often regurgitated before the raptor eats its next meal. It takes 6-8 hours between the time
the prey is eaten and when the bird casts up the pellet. For falconry birds held in captivity that are fed once per day, that time period will be longer (the pellet is typically
cast the next day).

Question 30

A creamy-white mute with a small black center is a good indicator of…

Answer 30

a healthy raptor

Question 31

True or False: The cloaca is the posterior chamber in a bird through which a mute passes.

Answer 31

True

*The cloaca is the internal chamber into which the excretory, digestive and reproduction tracts pass. It is important to be sure that the vent, or external opening of the chamber analogous to an anus in mammals, is checked regularly and is clean and free of fecal
material.

Question 32

A small greenish mute from a bird that seems otherwise healthy is indicative of…

Answer 32

an empty gastro-intestinal tract (GIT)

Question 33

Washed meat is used to…

Answer 33

lower a raptor’s weight.

*The method of saturating the bird’s food with cold water (soaking the meat) is used to decrease a bird’s body weight or to increase hydration. The method of soaking the meat for a long period of time and wringing it out renders the meat almost completely devoid of nutritional value. Feeding the hawk such “washed meat” will keep its GIT functioning while allowing the bird to lose weight as it metabolizes its own body’s nutritional
reserves.

Question 34

Hawks should not be exposed to extended rains because…

Answer 34

it may chill and lower resistance to several diseases.

*A hawk may be left out in a light rain but should be removed to shelter if its feathers become soaked. The bird should always have access to both shelter and to the external environment.

Question 35

While coping the beak or talons of a raptor, a bit too much is cut away and bleeding
results. What sort of treatment is necessary?

Answer 35

Usually no treatment is necessary because the bleeding will stop

Question 36

A bird should be coped when…

2 Points

Answer 36

a. the beak grows too long
b. the talons grow too long

*Coping is cutting back or shortening either the beak or the talons. Though occasionally requiring trimming, talons typically wear through normal activity. A bird’s beak, however, may need the falconer’s attention to prevent overgrowth, discomfort and even malocclusion (misalignment of the upper and lower mandibles).

Question 37

Your bird shows signs of decreased tolerance to exercise and exhibits heavy breathing after a short flight. There may even be a change in voice. These may represent signs of…

Answer 37

aspergillosis

*Aspergillosis is a fungal infection that affects primarily the respiratory system. It is usually associated with a decrease in immune function. Granulomas (masses) form as the body attempts to wall off infection. Other organs such as the brain, the kidneys and bones may become infected.

Question 38

The treatment of aspergillosis is very…..

Answer 38

difficult and preventive measures against infection
are essential.

*Stressed birds (training, following a change in management techniques, first year birds), and birds undergoing long-term treatment with antibiotics or with steroids are more susceptible to developing aspergillosis. Treatment is complicated, must include
supportive care and may require a combination of antifungal drugs. Despite proper treatment, the condition is often fatal. Prevention is key and should combine a clean environment, decreased stress and optimization of the health of the bird. The problem
can be reduced by using substances in the mews that do not support the growth of mold. Avoid hay, straw and dampness in general.

Question 39

About Aspergillosis…

6 Points

Answer 39

1. The fungus is found in the environment, especially in organic matter and in damp surroundings.
2. Some species such as goshawks and gyrfalcons are particularly susceptible to aspergillosis (often referred to as “asper”).
3. Birds of any age are at risk of developing the disease. 4. Early clinical signs are often subtle and by the time they are recognized, the disease is advanced.
4. Infection in the brain and the kidneys (via compression of nerves) can lead to neurological signs. 6. Aspergillosis is not transmissible from one bird to another.

Question 40

True or false: Fungal infections are often associated with other medical problems.

Answer 40

True

*Other diseases may complicate infections with aspergillosis. Decreased immune function may promote increased parasite load, secondary bacterial infections, and dehydration may lead to gout. Appropriate diagnosis by a veterinarian will help design the most appropriate treatment plan.

Question 41

Your bird becomes suddenly more tame and well-mannered, even at times when it would be expected to act wild. It refuses to eat well. It is reluctant to physically exert itself. Its bating is weak and causes heavy breathing and general exhaustion. It has an extreme thirst and tends to bend forward due to a painful abdomen. It eats less and less and finally ends up picking at the food and flicking it away. It most likely suffers from…

Answer 41

aspergillosis

*With aspergillosis, the end comes very quickly - usually within a week, sometimes only two days. The bird will lose all interest in food, but will exhibit extreme thirst. Weight loss is dramatic, amounting to as much as half the bird’s normal weight. Weight loss seems to be mostly due to rapid dehydration. The bird sits on the perch with all of its feathers loose, and then falls off the perch and dies. Post mortem will show her body
cavity and air sacs filled with moldy grey dust.

Question 42

The most lethal disease likely to occur in birds of prey is…

Answer 42

Aspergillosis.

*The fungus that causes it, Aspergillosis fumigatus, attacks the respiratory system and is usually lethal. The great problem with treating it is that by the time the first clear symptoms appear, the disease is already deeply established and the bird almost certainly doomed.

Question 43

The best weapon against aspergillosis is…

Answer 43

prevention.

*Both Ancobon and amphotericin B have shown occasional limited success in treating aspergillosis but prevention of aspergillosis is the only successful method of control. The fungus that causes the disease is not strictly a disease organism. It is extremely widespread. The spores can be almost anywhere. The problem can be reduced by using
substances in the mews that do not become moldy. Pea gravel and artificial surfaces such as Astroturf are excellent. Avoid hay, straw and dampness. Stress may also predispose a bird to this disease.

Question 44

Aspergillosis is most frequently seen in…

Answer 44

Goshawks and Gyrfalcons.

*Birds from arctic and subarctic regions seem more susceptible to the disease than those from more southern latitudes.

Question 45

Birds that have some symptoms of aspergillosis should also be treated for…

Answer 45

Pneumonia should also be considered in birds that have symptoms of aspergillosis.

*Treatment is accomplished with antibiotics, stress reduction, good food and quiet. Birds with pneumonia tend to eat well up to their death, unlike those with aspergillosis.

Question 46

Coccidiosis is the disease caused by…

Answer 46

protozoa parasites affecting the lining of the gastrointestinal tract

Question 47

Coccidia are transmitted…

3 Points

Answer 47

a. by direct contact with an infected bird
b. through the ingestion of droppings of a sick bird
c. through ingestion of contaminated soil

Question 48

True or false: As with any disease, treatment for coccidiosis should be entrusted to the
recommendations of a veterinarian.

Answer 48

True

*Treatment initiated early during the first stage of the disease (before the mutes turn black) is most effective. Additional supportive care may become necessary. Every effort should be made to maintain hydration and body weight, and to prevent secondary
infections.

Question 49

Flecks of red appear in your bird’s mutes. A few days later, the mutes turn watery and black; the castings are slimy, dark brown and foul smelling. The hawk does not
otherwise appear very ill. The most likely diagnosis is…

Answer 49

coccidiosis.

*Generally, the actions and behavior of the hawk will not change much during the first stages of the illness. About a week later, however, the bird’s appetite may fail quite suddenly. The bird casts up anything it might have eaten and becomes very thirsty.
Otherwise it sits fluffed and listless with half closed eyes, then falls off the perch, stiffens and dies.

Question 50

Upon opening the mouth of your bird, you note a cheesy cream-yellow growth. This can be located at the corners (“gape”) of the mouth, around the tongue, and on the roof of the mouth. Appetite is decreased, the bird is having difficulty feeding, and the fecal part of the mutes is decreased. An important disease to rule out is…

Answer 50

trichomonas infection.

Question 51

Trichomonas

4 Points

Answer 51

1. protozoan parasite of the digestive tract that often causes plaques and obstruction in the mouth and the crop.
2. In raptors, the disease is called frounce (and
   canker in pigeons).
3. It is often seen in American kestrels, Barn Owls, Barred Owls, Cooper’s Hawks, Eastern Screech Owls, Golden Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons.
4. An early symptom of the disease is a bird that is attempting to eat but spits out the pieces of
   food. An inflamed lining of the mouth and the presence of excessive mucus are early clinical findings. Lesions may not be present so confirmation of the diagnosis by a veterinarian is important.

Question 52

A raptor can become infected with trichomonas by…

Answer 52

eating an infected pigeon.

*Feral pigeons, doves, European Starlings and House Sparrows are known to carry trichomonas. Recommendations to reduce transmission of the disease include removing the head and crop of all pigeons before feeding and to freeze these birds prior to feeding them to a raptor. However if not done properly, these measures may not be sufficient to prevent infection.

**Note: Pigeons may also carry pigeon herpes virus which is impossible to detect and can cause fatal infections in raptors.

Question 53

True or false: Infections with trichomonas are self-limiting and raptors recover on their own a few days after clinical signs appear.

Answer 53

False

*Infection with trichomonas can become fatal if left untreated and the raptor often dies a week to 10 days after the presence of the oral masses is detected. The mouth becomes overgrown with hard plaques, breathing becomes difficult, feeding impossible. The bird may die of strangulation or starvation. The incubation period, that is the time between actual infection and the first symptoms, appears to be no more than 10 days.

Question 54

Untreated, frounce is usually fatal within ________ day(s) of the time the symptoms appear.

Answer 54

10.

*Virulent frounce usually runs a fatal course in a week to ten days from the time the first symptoms appear. The mouth becomes overgrown with hard plaques, breathing becomes difficult, feeding impossible. The bird dies of strangulation or starvation. The incubation period, that is the time between actual infection and the first symptoms, appears to be no more than ten days.

Question 55

The most practical weapons against frounce are…

4 Points

Answer 55

1. Feed food animals from only trusted sources - in some places 80% of feral pigeons are infected.
2. Close monitoring of the raptor and early intervention are essential.
3. Freezing of prey for three days prior to feeding may help kill parasites.
4. Enheptin was generally used until it was discovered that Emtryl (or another drug called Flagyl) was safer and equally effective.

Question 56

True or false: In birds, West Nile Virus (“WNV”) is acquired following bite from an infected mosquito.

Answer 56

True

• Transmission of WNV is mostly through the bite of infected mosquitoes. There are concerns that hippoboscid flies and other ectoparasites may also transmit the virus. Infected birds shed virus in oral secretions, nitrogenous waste from the kidneys and
  feces. Ingestion of infected prey or ectoparasites are other suspected sources of transmission.

Question 57

West Nile Virus infection in raptors causes…

Answer 57

weakness, seizures, anemia and blindness.

Question 58

Your bird develops a small bruise or corn on the bottom of the foot. It then progresses to a small localized swelling. It is warm and reddened in appearance. The condition becomes extremely painful to the bird, which begins to lie down frequently to take pressure off the ball of its foot. The most appropriate diagnosis is…

Answer 58

bumblefoot

Question 59

Bumblefoot Stages
(4 Points)

Answer 59

1. There is a thinning of the skin on the bottom of the foot.
   2: The skin becomes pink and there is a loss of scales. 3: A sore appears in the center of the irritation.
   4: The foot begins to swell. Stage five: The infection has gone into the bone, and bone loss may result. The prognosis is grave at this stage. All stages require intervention.
   * Stages three and above require veterinary care.*

Question 60

True or false: Bumblefoot (pododermatitis) is easily treated and is of no big concern to
falconers.

Answer 60

False

*Bumblefoot occurs in stages. The quicker it is noticed, the better the chances of recovery. Severe cases of bumblefoot can be fatal. S

Question 61

Foot swelling in trained falcons is more often than not linked to…

Answer 61

a diet of lean beef and/or general poor husbandry

Question 62

Bumblefoot is caused by…

3 Points

Answer 62

a. any injury to the sole of the foot
b. standing in irritating substances such as excrement or commercial cleaners that have not been properly rinsed from a block or perch
c. dietary deficiencies of vitamin A

Question 63

The best way to prevent bumblefoot is to…

3 Points

Answer 63

a. keep a clean perch, a short leash, and a padded perch surface
b. feed the bird an appropriately nutritious diet
c. cope the talons to keep an appropriate length and sharpness

Question 64

True or false: Frequent physical examinations are a good preventative for bumblefoot.

Answer 64

True:

*Raptor feet should be checked every time the bird is handled and the bird must be examined regularly when the bird is not being flown. Detecting bumblefoot early is key to its successful treatment.

Question 65

True or false: Clinical signs of sour crop include a bird that appears dull, with its feathers puffed out, and a crop that is still distended from the previous day’s feeding.
The food in the crop has a sour smell and may have been regurgitated, and the bird has no appetite.

Answer 65

True.

*If a bird’s digestive system shuts down, food will sit in the crop for 24 hours or more. This allows bacteria to flourish and the food develops a sour smell. A bird showing signs of sour crop must receive medical attention. The old food must be removed with
forceps and the bird’s crop will need to be lavaged - therapeutically washed out by a veterinarian. The bird must then be treated with appropriate medications.

Question 66

Sour crop can be caused by…

3 Points

Answer 66

a. ingestion by the bird of poor quality, stale or rotten meat
b. a parasitic infection such as a. candidiasis and trichomoniasis and the associated inflammatory changes in the digestive tract
c. ingestion of toxic substances such as petroleum products

Question 67

True or False: “Sour crop” can be easily diagnosed and treated by the falconer.

Answer 67

False

*There are many causes of “sour crop” that may lead to “crop stasis”, ranging from bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections to impaction due to a physical obstruction or bad food. There is no “magic pill” to resolve this condition and veterinary services are
required for treatment.

Question 68

During the initial handling of a fresh-trapped Sharp-shinned Hawk, the bird shows an uncontrolled jerking or twitching of the shoulders and wings. A likely cause of this condition is…

Answer 68

Stress.

*The bird should immediately be placed in a dark, quiet, and cool place. Decreased handling is essential but close monitoring is important. If more than a few moments pass, the bird will go into a succession of violent spasms, and, if untreated, will live for
only a few hours. The condition is associated with stress in small accipiters.

Question 69

The species of bird most susceptible to stress-related seizures is the…

Answer 69

Cooper’s Hawk

*Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks are quite susceptible to these attacks. Goshawks are less likely to suffer them, though they are certainly not immune. Affected birds can die within minutes unless the onset of the condition is recognized and addressed
immediately

Question 70

The recommended treatment for stress induced seizures is…

Answer 70

isolation of the bird in a quiet environment and administration of sugar water if necessary

Question 71

A newly captured merlin is repeatedly biting at its legs. One cause for this behavior is…

Answer 71

maladaptation to captive environment.

*Occasionally, a raptor captured from the wild fails to adapt to captive conditions and starts to self-mutilate. Over-preening, feather plucking or biting at legs has been reported. If environmental conditions are adequate, this problem is rarely observed. If need be, the bird should be fed and released back to the wild.

Question 72

A diet of meat only in a young and growing bird will rapidly lead to…

Answer 72

improper calcification of bones and fractures.

Question 73

metabolic bone disease

Answer 73

Makes bones weak. Result of a diet only of meat.

Question 74

In a downy eyas, clinical signs of metabolic bone disease include…

Answer 74

inability walk so will crawl to move from one place to another.

*About the third day after the pain calls begin, the arching of the bones caused by muscle spasms can be seen in the long bones of the legs, more rarely in the wings as well. Death usually occurs on the fourth or fifth day after the first symptoms appear. Early correction of the diet is essential to prevent permanent bone damage.

Question 75

Metabolic bone disease is most commonly observed in…

Answer 75

downies taken into captivity.

*Metabolic bone disease is a primary cause of death in eyases of any species taken in the downy stages and even occasionally in large downies that are not fed an appropriate diet. Eyases not given bone in the diet are especially vulnerable because of their rapid growth and the high calcium demand for new bone formation. In younger birds, hypothermia is an important problem and great care must be taken to keep the temperature warm at all times and at all costs.

Question 76

Prevention of metabolic bone disease can be achieved by…

Answer 76

feeding small bones as soon as the young bird is able to assimilate them

Question 77

How to ‘feed bone’

5 Points

Answer 77

1. The falconer should remove the head, crop, viscera and feathers of prey
   2.Grind up the rest, bones and all, in a meat grinder or Waring blender
2. then feed the formula to the chicks.
3. Birds older than three-days should receive
   finely chopped bone in the small mammals or the birds they are fed. Castings should not
   be fed until after the fourth week.
4. A light sprinkling of calcium only (no phosphorus)
   powder on the food given to downies or egg-laying hawks helps but is not sufficient to
   prevent the condition.

Question 78

If stargazing is caused by a dietary deficiency, the recommended treatment is…

Answer 78

vitamin B1 supplementation

Question 79

“stargazing syndrome”

Answer 79

A bird with “stargazing syndrome” has inflammation of the brain and will stand with its head upward or backward over its shoulders.

*A similar condition can be seen in birds with severe head trauma. Deficiency in vitamin B1 can cause lesions in the brain leading
to stargazing behavior. Rapid treatment can be curative.

Question 80

The preferred treatment for “stargazing syndrome” is…

Answer 80

sunlight and vitamin D3

*A bird with “stargazing syndrome” has inflammation of the brain and will stand with its head upward or backward over its shoulders. The most common cause in raptors appears to be a vitamin D3 deficiency. Birds cannot absorb vitamin D2, which is the form most commonly found in vitamin capsules intended for human beings. Vitamin D3 is found in cod liver oil and in vitamin drops intended for birds. The normal source in
raptors is the Sun’s ultra-violet irradiation of the oil on the feathers, which converts some of it into vitamin D3. Hence, putting the birds outside in the sunlight is a cure.
Most other vitamin deficiencies can be avoided by feeding whole bodies of small birds and mammals or by giving a multi-vitamin powder occasionally on the meat.

Question 81

True or False. A raptor with a broken leg or wing should be killed in a humane manner since these bones cannot be set or casted with any degree of success.

Answer 81

False

*Trauma, gunshot injuries, entanglement may result in bone fracture and significant tissue damage. Immediate veterinary must be sought out to limit the damage caused by the bone fragments and control infection. Immediate and proper alignment of broken bones, combined with appropriate antibiotic therapy and pain management have optimized the recovery of birds with fractured bones. Surgery, when indicated, hastens
recovery and allows for a faster return to function.

Question 82

Lead toxicity due to ingestion of lead shot in food items…

Answer 82

requires immediate veterinary care which will include binding of the lead and supportive care.

*Neurological signs are commonly seen in all raptors following ingestion of lead pellets; the signs can range from weakness to seizures and often include paralysis of the gastrointestinal tract. Lead toxicity can result in permanent and fatal damage to the brain, kidneys and pancreas. Death will result if treatment is delayed. Aggressive chelating therapy (use of binding agents to neutralize and get rid of lead), supportive care and monitoring of blood parameters (for anemia, liver and renal functions) and of blood lead levels, as well as radiographs (to monitor for the presence and expulsion of gunshots) are essential for the recovery of the animal.

Question 83

Improper use of drugs and hormones to stimulate molt can…

3 Points

Answer 83

a. be fatal
b. result in poor quality feathers
c. result in aberrant feather size and pigmentation

Question 84

The proper method for transporting a wild caught raptor is…

Answer 84

in a dark padded box, ideally with a hood covering the head

*Raptors are not physiologically adapted to stay upside down for any period of time; strain to the joints and muscles may occur during struggle and restraint. Uncovered and wire cages will result in excessive exposure and self-inflicted injuries while the bird
attempts to escape. Tape will result in damage to feathers and may severely compromise breathing. The carrier should be well ventilated, large enough so the bird does not touch any part of the crate when its wings are closed, that it can make positional adjustments, and has sufficient head and tail clearance. Padding the inside of the carrier is highly recommended.

Question 85

You notice your downy eyas is unable to sit up. It feeds greedily enough but sprawls on its breast. It makes repeated attempts to sit upright and begins to voice its discomfort by an irritable, high-pitched chittering. As the disorder progresses, the, bird becomes extremely restless shifting about in an awkward crawl, chattering continuously. The best diagnosis is…

Answer 85

cramp.

*About the third day after the pain calls begin, the arching of the bones caused by muscle spasms can be seen in the long bones of the legs, more rarely in the wings as well. Death usually occurs on the fourth or fifth day after the first symptoms appear.

Question 86

Cramp is a disease most commonly found in…

Answer 86

downies taken into captivity.

*Cramp or rickets is a primary cause of death in eyases of any species taken in the downy stages and even occasionally in large downies. The younger the bird, the greater the care that must be taken to keep it warm at all times and at all costs. The disease can be avoided by assuring that young, older than three-days, receive finely chopped bone in the small mammals or the birds they are fed. Castings should not be fed until after the
fourth week. A light sprinkling of calcium phosphorous powder on the food given to downies or egg-laying hawks is probably a good idea.

Question 87

A major cause of cramp is…

Answer 87

calcium deficiency caused by feeding lean beef.

Question 88

Internal parasites:

3 Points

Answer 88

1. are common in captive raptors
2. are usually easily treated
3. can cause death or debilitation

Question 89

True or false: Intestinal parasites can be treated using one “all-around” anti-parasitic
such as Ivermectin.

Answer 89

False.

*There are many types of internal parasites that require specific medications for treatment. Parasites such as nematodes (round worms), cestodes (tapeworms) and
protozoans (coccidia, giardia) all require different drugs for treatment.

Question 90

A good treatment for roundworms in a raptor’s digestive tract is…

Answer 90

Piperazine. Fenbendazole (Panacur)

Question 91

Parasites visible in mutes without a microscope may include…

Answer 91

Roundworms and Tapeworms

Question 92

The preferred treatment for tapeworm infestation is…

Answer 92

Praziquantel

Question 93

True or false. Bird lice can kill a healthy raptor.

Answer 93

False

*Avian lice are usually not a parasite of serious concern. Healthy birds are able to groom off the lice and can resist an over abundance. Ill birds can become infested.

Question 94

As soon as possible after taking a nestling raptor, its ears should be inspected for…

Answer 94

Maggots.

*All eyases should be inspected for maggots (miasis) in the ears. The parasite is especially common in Cooper’s Hawks in the southern part of their range, caused by the screwworm fly. It is also common in young Red-tailed Hawks.

Question 95

The best treatment for maggots (miasis) is…

Answer 95

Saline in the ears.

*A few drops of saline will cause them to forsake the ear cavity and they can be readily removed and destroyed. The ear canal can be filled with saline solution and the maggots will float to the surface. Use forceps to carefully pick them out.

Question 96

True of False: Hippoboscids are dangerous to hawks.

Answer 96

True

*Hippoboscids are blood sucking parasites. Large numbers can create anemia and they are known to transmit haemoproteus (intracellular parasites that infect the red blood cells) and West Nile Virus. Birds with Hippoboscids should be treated immediately.