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Raptor Rehabilitation and Environmental Education in Western Australia's South West
WELCOME to the home page of  EarthWings Raptor Rehabilitation.


As volunteer wildlife rehabilitators registered with Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), we take in sick, injured and orphaned raptors (ie: eagles, falcons, hawks and owls) for veterinary assessment, treatment, on-going care and rehabilitation for return to the wild wherever possible.

As members of the Society for the Preservation of Raptors (Inc.) a not for profit organisation dedicated to raptor care, rehabilitation, conservation and education, we also participate in community education programmes.


On this web site, you will find:

If you find a sick, injured or orphaned bird of prey that needs help, you need to:
  • Catch it
  • Put it in a cardboard box
  • Keep it quiet and warm
  • Deliver it to a raptor carer as soon as possible.

Catching a raptor, even a sick or injured one, can be tricky.  A sick or injured animal is very vulnerable, and if cornered, may panic and fight to escape.  Always use a blanket or towel to try and catch a bird (depending on the size) and move very slowly and quietly to avoid panicking it.

The cardboard box you use to restrain and transport the bird will ideally be big enough for the bird to sit in with its wings folded, and possibly take a step or two and turn around in, but not so large that it can attempt to fly and possibly injure itself further.  For example, you wouldn't put a tiny sparrowhawk into a box that was a cubic metre in volume, but you wouldn't try to cram it into a shoe box, either.  This being said, if all you have is the big box, then that will have to do!

Put the box containing the bird into a warm, quiet, dark place, away from noises, pets and children, as further contact may stress the bird more and weaken it.  If handled too much, the bird can die of a condition known as stress myopathy, so keep human contact to a minimum.

The next step is to contact a wildlife carer who has the knowledge, training and correct equipment to deal with your patient.  Not all wildlife carers are trained, willing or able to take raptors.  You can contact any of the people listed in our emergency contacts section, or you can ring DEC Wildcare on (08) 9474 9055 for a referral.

Once you have made contact with someone who can take the bird, please assist by bringing the bird to the carer, rather than expecting the carer to come to you.  Wildlife carers in Western Australia are all volunteers who are not paid by any government or private organisation to do what they do.  They are often busy with families and patients and do not have the resources to run an ambulance service in addition to everything else.

The wildlife rehabilitator will ask you some questions.  These are important.  They may ask questions such as:
  • Under what circumstances did you find the bird?
  • Where and when did you find the bird?
  • What exactly was the bird doing when you found it?
  • Did you administer any first aid or treatment?
  • Would you like to be kept informed of the bird's progress?
  • In the event that the bird recovers enough to be released, would you like to be present at the release?

The rehabilitator may also request a donation.  If you can't manage a donation, that's fine, but if you can, it will be much appreciated, as every little bit helps.

If you are interested in becoming a wildlife carer, contact DEC on (08) 9334 0333 and ask to speak with the Community Involvement Coordinator.  DEC is the regulatory body in charge of supervising and coordinating wildlife carers.  You will need to complete the Basic Wildlife Carers' Course, spend some time working under the supervision of a registered wildlife carer, and have your facilities inspected and approved by a Wildlife Officer.

If you would like someone to visit your school, community group or organisation to talk about wildlife care or raptors in our environment, or you would like to have a raptor display at your event, please click HERE to see how to contact us.


Some of our Feathered Friends
Nimue is a Little Falcon who was found weak and listless in Midvale, suffering internal injuries from a collision with an unknown object.  Nimue spent two weeks in intensive care and then went to Eagles Heritage Raptor Wildlife Centre in Margaret River to regain her fitness.  After three weeks of fresh air, lots of food and lots of exercise, Nimue was released at John Forrest National Park, a short distance from where she was found. Ryu is an elderly Barn Owl who was handed in to a wildlife carer with a badly broken leg and wing, probably from being hit by a car.  Unfortunately, the break had already healed out of alignment by the time she was handed to a specialist raptor carer.  She does not have full use of her right leg and therefore cannot be released.  Ryu has a permanent home in the rehabilitation aviary at EarthWings, where she acts as "den mother" for sick and injured barn owls who come in for rehabilitation.
  

Photgraph courtesy Community Newspaper  Group
Igor is a Southern Boobook who came to EarthWings for rehabilitation after having his broken leg and wing healed at WA Conservation of Raptors (another local volunteer group specialising in birds of prey.)  Igor spent several months at the Eagles Heritage Raptor Wildlife Centre in Margaret River, moulting and regaining full hunting fitness.  When his damaged tail feathers grew back, he was returned to Perth and released. Lucky is a Southern Boobook who was found in a garden in Winthrop, unable to stand.  Lucky had eaten insects which had been poisoned with insecticide, and was suffering paralysis caused by the toxins he had taken in.  After receiving supportive care (fluids, food, quiet and rest) Lucky spent time in a flight aviary to regain his fitness and was released at Piney Lakes Nature Reserve, a short distance from where he was found.



Dr Ray Butler assesses a Little Falcon

Thank You!

Last but not least, we would like to offer our sincere thanks to Dr Ray Butler of the Riseley Veterinary Clinic in Applecross.  Dr Ray is one of the best avian vets around and there is more than one bird out there who owes both its life and its freedom to the good people at Riseley Veterinary Clinic.

And since the birds can't talk (or publish web pages) we would like to say thank you on their behalf to vets everywhere who do pro bono work with wildlife.  You really do make a difference.

 Photograph of Dr Ray Butler assessing Guinevere the Little Falcon courtesy Dianne Hunter.





Emergency contacts for sick or injured birds of prey in Western Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Legend of the Amazing One-Legged Barn Owl - how to tell if a bird is stressed.
Contact us regarding a display at your event, school or community group.
View our Educational Package.
What happens when a raptor is taken into care?
Read up on Pest Control strategies.
Check out our short (but valuable) Page o' Links.

EarthWings Raptor Rehabilitation and others where stated assert the right to be identified as the authors and owners of all material on this web site.  All information and images are copyright unless otherwise stated.  This web site is produced for the purposes of community education and conservation.  No responsibilty is taken for content on any of the web pages outside of this web site, including those sites linked to this one.   Permission to copy or reproduce information or images from this web site must be obtained in writing from the copyright owner.

© 2002-2006 EarthWings Raptor Rehabilitation