As a falconer, it's not uncommon for me to get requests to help out with birds of prey. For instance, last semester I was contacted by teachers at Western Albemarle High School to capture a Cooper's Hawk that had accidentally entered their gymnasium through an open door and couldn't get out.

Over the holiday break, I was given the opportunity to help a kestrel with a broken wing recover. The little falcon was observed on some farmland near Culpepper--he appeared very tame, but in actuality was injured and avoided flying. I trapped the kestrel (as a master falconer, I have the license and permit to legally capture birds of prey). X-rays at the vet indicated that he had fractured the radius in his right wing. We put the wing in a splint for two weeks (bird bones heal much quicker than people bones).

I am now working with the kestrel everyday to strengthen the muscles that have atrophied during his period of inactivity, and improve the mobility in the wing. My hope is that he will recover the ability to fly normally. If he does, I'll eventually release him when the weather warms up this spring. If he doesn't, I'll continue to tame and train him so that he can be used as an education bird at a wildlife center.

- Randy Bell (electronic mail, January 23, 2006)