Scottish SPCA

Wild birds return to the skies

The Scottish SPCA has successfully released a buzzard and a short-eared owl back into the wild after they were rescued and rehabilitated by the animal charity.

Having recovered from their injuries the birds were returned to the skies on Friday (14 October) after being cared for at our Caithness and Sutherland Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Balmore.

The buzzard came into our care after it was hit by a car. Luckily the bird of prey sustained only minor damage to its wing and after a check up by local wildlife vet Sinclair Manson underwent a fortnight of cage rest and rehabilitation before being assessed as fit for release.

Senior Inspector Audrey Gunn said, "I chose a release site in the Spittal area of Caithness that would give lots of cover and where there would be a plentiful food source.

"It was great to see the buzzard take off from my hand back into the wild where it belongs."

The short-eared owl was found by a member of the public in the Dunbeath area in August after being attacked by another animal.

"This bird was in quite a bad way," SI Gunn said. "It was very weak and underweight so after receiving vet treatment it was put on cage rest, fed up for a few weeks and then moved into a flight enclosure to allow us to assess its condition.

"The owl remained in our care for almost two months before it was fully fit and ready to be released.

"I returned it to the Dunbeath area and the lady who found it was thrilled to get a photograph of the rare bird before I released it.

"Hopefully the owl will find a mate and go on to breed to help increase the numbers of this species in Scotland."

The short-eared owl is of European conservation concern. There are an estimated 1,000 to 3,500 breeding pairs in the UK situated mainly in Northern England and Scotland.

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