Last week I glossed over the actual information gathered during a raptor health check. This week I wanted to go into more depth about what we examine and what that tells us about the bird’s overall health.

The very first piece of information collected is the bird’s weight. The weight combined with the amount of muscle on a bird’s keel (similar to the breastbone in humans) are the first indicators of whether the bird is healthy. Any significant loss of weight or muscle may indicate there is problem that should be looked into further.

The feet and talons also need to be examined. Since our birds are in captivity their talons (aka their claws) sometimes become overgrown. Not only can this be uncomfortable for the bird but overgrown talons can puncture their feet. These wounds can lead to a bacterial infection known as Bumblefoot. That’s why a bird’s talons need to be trimmed regularly, just like people trim cats and dogs claws.

Since most of the raptors at the Sanctuary have wing injuries, it is important that we check the site of their injury. If the wound is open, the enclosure should be rearranged to prevent further harm. We also examine the feathers at this time. If the feathers appear chewed up, it is a sign that the bird has feather mites and should be treated with a broad spectrum anti-parasite medication.

Finally we look at their head including eyes, ears, and mouth. In the mouth we look for any discoloration (sign of infection) or dryness (sign of dehydration). We also examine the eyes for damage and make sure the bird can blink properly. The very last thing is to put the bird back in its cage after the ordeal.

Great Horned Owl being wrapped for a health check