999 called us… yes, you read that right.
When the call came in about a sparrowhawk trapped inside an ambulance depot, our team didn’t hesitate.
When they arrived, they saw her, perched above in the high ceilings of the warehouse, confused and afriad by all the noise. She had darted into the depot, days earlier, in pursuit of a pigeon, but somehow, couldn’t find her way back out (despite the generous opening she used to get in).
She had been mistaking the depot windows for an exit – a common situation birds find themselves in. With window strikes increasing at this time of year, simple measures such as placing stickers can help prevent injuries to birds.
Our rescuer, Louis, explained the plan to the team. We wanted to approach her, gently, without startling her even more.
The plan was for four of us to approach from either side, so she would eventually fly into one of the nets. Once successfully captured, she was brought back to WAF.
Once safely back with us at WAF, she had a full check-up with our vet, Judith, who found no injuries, just that her feet were covered in cobwebs; a hazard of spending time up in the rafters!
After receiving a much-needed clean and a quick flight test to confirm she was still okay to fly, it was decided she could be released the same day, talk about a speedy turnaround!
Released close to where she was found, she didn’t hang about and flew straight off into the skies like nothing had happened!
Curious about these incredible birds? Check out our sparrowhawk fact page to learn more!
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