!!! Maple is very sick indeed!
July 09, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Mark Nash Reports:
With a huge thank you to all who were involved in bringing Maple’s situation to our attention, as the calls started approx. 6:30 am this morning alerting us that something was not well with one of the young fledglings. The bridge staff reported that a young peregrine had come down to the lower hand rail on the lift portion of the bridge - (only several feet away from the passing traffic), and that it was unable to gain any altitude over the corse of several short and very weak flights.
By 7:15 am, the first photos arrived via e-mail, and despite that they may have appeared to simply look like a normal sleepy bird, they told a quite a different story. The fledgling juvenile was identified as Maple, and with the combined observation reports of her activity this morning, it is quite evident that Maple is very sick and in need of emergency medical attention.
The morning was filled with numerous calls and conversations with the avian vet, OMNR, the bridge staff, Sue and to Bruce who were all advised of the situation in anticipation that sooner or later Maple would be coming to the ground and the need to get her to emergency medical attention would be necessary.
Later this morning, Barry called and confirmed our worst fears as he described his observations of Maple’s activities and behavior over the previous two days. These observations combined with the earlier photos submitted of Maple pointed to a very sick bird indeed, with a suspected avian illness called Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as Frounce or Tric in raptors. While this type of illness can be successfully treated with antibiotics, it requires that early diagnosis be made and that treatment be administered as soon as possible. Bruce was dispatched and arrived on scene at the bridge less than fifteen minutes before Maple came to the ground. A huge thank you to Bill and Sue, Barry, the Burlington bridge staff and all that were on hand and involved in the co-ordination and rescue of Maple!
Maple was quickly scooped up and placed in a rescue carrier and on route to the avian vet. She was admitted right away upon her arrival.
We will have to wait for the news on her condition.
Stay tuned…..
