Whenever a swift is found grounded, we know that something’s up!
This youngster was picked up, and initially didn’t appear to have much wrong. We have been seeing a lot of juvenile swifts leaving their nests before they’re ready due to the extreme heat we’ve been having. This results in them often falling to the ground.
During the initial assessment, vet, Judith, noted he wasn’t using his left leg. There were no other wounds or injuries, but there was some bruising around the leg. His body condition wasn’t bad – a hopeful sign – but X-rays revealed the problem: a fracture to the tibiotarsus.
For a swift, that’s a serious challenge. Their bones are incredibly short and lightweight – perfect for a life of high-speed aerial acrobatics, but very difficult to repair if broken.
That’s where our experts stepped in. Judith, our highly skilled vet, prepared the delicate repair work and following on our trusted swift specialist Kasia provided expert handling and care, ensuring the patient remained calm and comfortable.
The fracture was aligned and closed – a small stroke of luck. Judith carefully cleaned the area with diluted hibiscrub, removed the surrounding feathers, and applied an Altman splint to the injured leg.
After 13 days in care, this determined little flyer was ready for freedom. We released him back into the wild and as he took to the skies, he even gave us a cheeky flash of his fancy, fixed leg.
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