PATIENT OF THE WEEK - Chance the Brown Goshawk

Earlier this month, the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit received a call for help from the staff at RSL Care Buderim regarding an injured brown goshawk. The bird was discovered lying on a third floor veranda and appeared to be extremely unwell, so he was rushed to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for emergency veterinary treatment.

Dr Tania assessed the brown goshawk, who had now been named Chance; his condition was so poor he was unable to even stand. Firstly, a breathing mask was placed over Chance’s face to allow him to inhale a mixture of Isoflurane anaesthetic gas and oxygen so he would fall asleep. Once Chance was asleep Dr Tania was able to intubate him and begin the assessment, which revealed his oral cavity (mouth) and trachea (wind pipe) were full of blood. He also had severe bruising and a hematoma (buildup of leaked blood) on the right jugular (a large vein that returns blood to the heart from the head and neck). It was an intense time for the veterinary team, as twice while under anaesthetic Chance’s heart stopped beating and he had to be revived with an injection of adrenaline; fortunately he responded each time. Once Dr Tania had stabilised Chance she was able to take x-rays which revealed haemorrhaging in the thoracic (chest) cavity, but fortunately no fractures which was positive. Dr Tania gave Chance sub-cutaneous fluids, plus pain relief, anti-inflammatories and then IV fluids, and he was set up in the Hospital’s Bird ICU to rest for the next 24 hours.

The next day on reassessment Chance was actually perching, which was amazing after being critical twenty-four hours earlier. He still had his right eye closed but his overall condition was improving, and so Dr Tania requested the nurses begin force-feeding Chance twice daily. Four days after being admitted Chance was eating on his own and starting to fly short distances. Dr Tania was very pleased with his progress and requested Chance be moved to a larger intensive care enclosure complete with branches and foliage to allow him to feel secure. Eleven days after arriving at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in critical condition, Chance is now displaying normal raptor behaviour. Dr Tania has made the decision to transfer Chance to Currumbin Sanctuary’s large flight aviary where he can regain his flight strength and fitness, prior to release back in the Buderim area.

Brown goshawk are by nature shy and secretive birds; they will sit quietly amongst a tree’s foliage and then emerge to ambush their prey, which might be a bird, small mammal, reptile or even a large insect. They will then return to a sheltered tree branch and begin to pluck out all the fur or feathers before feeding on the body.

Contact Wildlife Warriors
1300 369 652
(07) 5436 2097

www.wildlifewarriors.org.au
 

PATIENT OF THE WEEK -  Zeus the Topknot Pigeon

Many times at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital we receive calls regarding injured “topknot pigeons” who on admittance turn out to be the more common crested pigeon, a smaller species which feeds on a variety of native grass seeds found while walking along the ground.

Zeus however is a true topknot pigeon and he looks spectacular. He was transferred to us recently from a vet surgery in Brisbane after being dropped off by a member of the public. The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is operational twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and provides specialist
veterinary treatment and care for all species of native wildlife. Increasingly our wildlife vets answer enquiries from domestic vets around Australia regarding medication dose rates and suitable treatments for sick or injured wildlife patients. Other vets arrange transfer of patients like Zeus to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for specialised treatment.

Dr Claude assessed Zeus and x-rays revealed a fractured bone and severe swelling in his wing. With this type of injury surgery is not an option, so instead Dr Claude used a figure-of-eight bandage to immobilise and keep the wing in the correct position while the bone mends. Zeus has also been placed on a course of anti-inflammatories and pain relief while he rests in the Birds ICU.

What to feed Zeus presented a dilemma, as at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital we try to provide the natural diet of the species whenever possible. That is why we have so many different native plants in our hospital grounds, from grevilleas which provide nectar-rich flowers for gliders, bats, ossums and birds, to eucalyptus species that can be fed to koalas and possums. Logistically there was no way we could gather all the natural food Zeus would normally eat, so the nurses improvised.

What a sight it was to see Zeus gulping down various berries and small fruit balls (his particular favourite being blue berries)! Zeus is due to have his bandage removed and to be reassessed by Dr Claude in another couple of days.

Topknot pigeons are a fruit-eating species inhabiting rainforests and remnant forests that contain seasonally-fruiting trees, limiting their distribution to the eastern states of Australia where rainfall is quite high. Topknot pigeons forage for ripe fruits in the forest canopy, favouring marble-size fruit
they can swallow whole. As rainforests with fruiting trees are cleared and natural feeding areas become fragmented, these pigeons now rely more heavily on fruit from introduced plant species such as camphor laurel and privet. Topknot pigeons play an important part in the dispersal of the seeds of native fruiting trees, however sadly this also means the seeds from these pest plant species are also being spread

Contact Wildlife Warriors
1300 369 652
(07) 5436 2097

www.wildlifewarriors.org.au