RAPTORS AHW Flashcards
What are three different examples of hawks (long winged)
Harris hawk
Goshawk
Red tailed hawk (buzzard)
What are some examples of falcons (short winged)
Peregrine falcon
Saker
Merlin
What is falconry?
The keeping of falcons (or other birds of prey) and training them to hunt wild animals
What are the laws regarding taking birds of prey from the wild?
Illegal unless got special permission from DEFRA
Don’t need licence from DEFRA is being treated by a vet and plan is to release it
What act protects wild animals?
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
What is schedule 9?
Any species listed in section 9 are non native and these animals legally can’t be released or allowed to escape
What is the schedule 9 rerelease exceptions list and what animals are commonly on there?
These animals can be rereleased into the wild after a period of rehabilitation
Barn own
Northern goshawk
Red kite
White tailed eagle
What is the legal requirement for keeping captive bred birds?
No legal requirement
What are the four most common reasons for welfare problems?
Poor diet
Housing problems
Lack of exercise
Lack of social interaction
What is flight weight
Ideal weight for flying (lowest weight that allows optimum flying)
What are the three different meanings for cast?
The method to hold the bird for examination
To regurgitate a pellet
Two or more birds flown together
What is footing
When a bird strikes with its foot (its painful)
What is cast off?
When a bird is released from the fist
What does imping?
Replacement of dead feathers, gluing a new tip onto the end of
What are mutes?
Droppings or faeces
What is a mews?
The building that a bird is kept it
What are the basic systems that animals are kept?
Aviaries
Tethered on blocks or perches
What are the two different perches?
Bow —> more wide use —> mimics tree branches
Block—> better for falcons —> mimics stones
What are the three different perch surfaces?
Astroturf
Nylon
Natural materials (bark and cork)
What should raptors eat?
An entire carcass (they’ll regurgitate the indigestible part such as bones)
Should be a mixture of different animals
Shouldn’t be purely meat (fillets etc.)
What should the calcium phosphorus ratio be?
2;1 in growing birds
1.5:1 in mature birds
How to cast a bird?
Using a towel, grab the bird from behind and ideally cover head if not hooded
Place one side of bird against your body
Move one hand to place fingers around leg
What are the three most common bird injuries?
Wing tip oedema (swelling)
Pododermatitis
Blunt trauma
What are the causes of pododermatitis in birds of prey?
Injury (rodent bites)
Self injury (when trying to catch prey)
Incorrect perch/ perch covering
Obesity
Nutritional deficiencies
How can we prevent pododermatitis?
Balanced diet
Clean environment
Cover perches with suitable material
Handle and fly more
What are the causes and ways to prevent wing tip oedema?
It is reduced blood flow to the wing tips
Can be prevented by keeping birds warm and dry
What exam should you always do on birds of prey?
Ophthalmology
What are signs of enteritis?
Abnormal mutes (poo)
Can vor it or regurgitate their food
Blood or undigested food in their faeces
What are the signs and causes of parasite infections?
Coccidia can cause diarrhoea
White plaques in mouth
Can freeze food and then fully defrost to prevent infections
Caused by multiple birds housed near each other and bad hygiene/ biosecurity
What are the causes of crop stasis (holding food in mouth)
Crop infection
Inappropriate food
Dehydration
Low body condition
Over full crop/ over gorging
What is the number one rule about feeding taproots
Don’t feed if it hasn’t cast yet, as risk of gut obstructiom
