Last year on 20^th December, this black kite was discovered with a drooping left wing at a barbecue site in Aberdeen Country Park. The raptor was rescued by the AFCD and sent to the KFBG Wild Animal Rescue Centre. During a health check, the left humerus was found fractured and the bird’s mouth was full of blood. Her severe wing injury called for immediate surgery during which specially designed metal rods were inserted across the cracked bones to keep them in position and enable them to self-repair.

The bird proved to be a fighter. As her wing healed, she was moved to successively larger enclosures and received daily physiotherapy to exercise her wings. A month and a half on, the damaged wing was much stronger and needed the metal support rods no more.

(Please click the above image to play the bird release video)

When we were certain that she had made a full recovery, she was returned to the wild at KFBG on 28^th April. After all she had been through, it was great to see her take to the wing again. She was given a second chance through the skilled care and attention of the Rescue Centre.