Simon Jones
Published Mar 30, 2016 at 8:00 am (Updated Mar 30, 2016 at 7:33 am)

A rare Pigeon Hawk has been nursed back to health by staff at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo after it was found stricken and unable to fly in a garden.

The bird, which is also known as a Merlin, was brought into the zoo by a member of the public at the beginning of the month after flying into a window. But now thanks to the efforts of several BAMZ staff there are high hopes that the hawk will be released back to the wild in the coming weeks.

“The bird was in poor condition when it arrived, being in shock and unable to stand on its legs,” Ian Walker, BAMZ curator, said.

“It was given steroid injections and fluids to treat its symptoms and kept quietly for the first two days.”

Over the past two weeks staff have fed and monitored the hawk around the clock ensuring it put on weight and regained its strength.

They even built a modified perch to ease the stress on its weak legs.

Dr Walker added: “Our animal care and quarantine officer, Roma Hayward has been closely monitoring the bird’s progress and ensuring that it is maintaining and also gaining weight.

Much-needed TLC: the Pigeon Hawk
works out its flight muscles

“The bird is now eating around 70g of food divided over three feeds a day. She has been exercising it in its sling and getting the bird to use its flight muscles through tethered flight.

“The left leg is still weaker but improving and both feet are now grasping perches.

“We are still concerned over the limited vision in its left eye but overall we are pleased with the slow but continuing progress and our hope is still to release the bird back into the wild when it is ready.”

Dr Walker added: “The cost of rehabilitation in these types of cases is very low with much time and equipment being donated by staff. In this instance the cost is likely less than $20 to date. A great example of recycling is that the specialised sling was created from a pair of old swim trunks donated to the cause by Stuart Hayward.”