BajaNomad - Vultures of Baja Mexico

Vultures of Baja Mexico

GEMcC5150 - 8-28-2010 at 10:00 AM

I have a young Turkey Vulture with a broken wing in my yare here in San Ignacio. I have gotten to drink water and we are giving him so chicken as food. Does anyone know of a vet that work with birds or some good advise on first aid. I know we can restrain the wing for 6 to 8 week but would like to pass him on to someone better equiped.

[Edited on 8-28-2010 by GEMcC5150]

astrobaja - 8-28-2010 at 10:11 AM

Hi Gem I have some freinds at Costa Salvaje and the Condor project so I just e-mailed them with your predicament to see if anyone in your area could help. You probably know this but just raw meat for them. Let you know as soon as I hear back!

shari - 8-28-2010 at 10:16 AM

also nomad mulegena who is in mulege has experience with birds...u2u her maybe....good luck

woody with a view - 8-28-2010 at 10:44 AM

cool pet if it doesn't heal enuff to fly again.

GEMcC5150 - 8-28-2010 at 10:55 AM

Thanks Woody

We're not looking for more pet. We keep trying to make life simpler and more pets does not make that happen.. So if he heals and can't fly you will take him in?

Photo from Neal Johns

David K - 8-28-2010 at 11:09 AM

Mulegena - 8-28-2010 at 01:10 PM

Hi, Its Mulegena

I've sent the poster a u2u, so please check.

Suerte, Zopolote!!

woody with a view - 8-28-2010 at 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GEMcC5150
Thanks Woody

We're not looking for more pet. We keep trying to make life simpler and more pets does not make that happen.. So if he heals and can't fly you will take him in?

my cats will enjoy it! if you deliver....

GEMcC5150 - 8-29-2010 at 07:31 AM

He made it throught the night and is eating all good so far.
We're caqlling him/her Frances it work both ways.\
More of the story to come.

monoloco - 8-29-2010 at 08:05 AM

We rescued a booby with a broken wing in Los Barriles once, the wing never healed and we ended up with a pet for 3 years. It wasn't a bad pet, totally imprinted to humans like a pet duck. The only draw back was that all it ate was fish.

Osprey - 8-29-2010 at 08:49 AM

Since your bird can't get aloft to cool down I would sure be watching his temps and adjusting his habitat accordingly. Maybe some online zoo info on buzzards could help keep his environment what's healthy for him. On hot days down here, if and when there is a breeze, they have to get aloft to moderate their temps.

woody with a view - 8-29-2010 at 08:55 AM

excellent info only a bird of prey would consider.....

Mulegena - 8-29-2010 at 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GEMcC5150
He made it throught the night and is eating all good so far.
We're caqlling him/her Frances it work both ways.\
More of the story to come.

Have you set the fracture properly? Antibiotics? Called Dr. Cota?

Mulegena - 8-29-2010 at 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulegena
Hi, Its Mulegena

I've sent the poster a u2u, so please check.

Suerte, Zopolote!!

Did you get the very detailed u2u I wrote yesterday because I've had no acknowledgment and will resend it if needed. Mulegena

astrobaja - 8-29-2010 at 11:00 AM

Hi Mulegena,

I have not heard back from the San Diego Zoo or the Condor station yet, seems like you already know of a vet to help them. Question: what are the chances of a vulture with a broken wing being able to fly again and able to fend for itself?

woody with a view - 8-29-2010 at 11:02 AM

as with everything in life, the chances of an outcome are 50/50.... it will or it won't.

i'm hoping it will.

Mulegena - 8-29-2010 at 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by astrobaja
Hi Mulegena,

I have not heard back from the San Diego Zoo or the Condor station yet, seems like you already know of a vet to help them. Question: what are the chances of a vulture with a broken wing being able to fly again and able to fend for itself?

Hi, Astro,
Honestly, the bird needs any possible wound treated first and foremost-- that's the primary concern, the injury which broke the wing may have created an open wound which would leave the bird subject to infection, infection of tissue and necrosis of the bones. Time is of the essence here, imo.

If the bird overcomes infection and the bone heals in place, he/she may find it can fly and fend for itself. If it heals but cannot fly it will need on-going protection and assistance, I believe.

We, Bajamick and myself, have had many, many birds throughout the years in various countries around the world. Here in Mulege we've attempted to rehab a turkey vulture with an infected, displaced fractured wing and most recently an osprey with damaged wing who also would not willingly eat, had to force-feed him. Neither bird lived unfortunately.

Shari had a wonderful seabird as a houseguest for a few days. She had a positive experience and the bird flew back into the wild, if I remember correctly.

Since Dr. Sellers is no longer here I'm developing a good relationship with young Dr. Manuel Cota of Sta. Rosalia who has access to antibiotics and knowledge of veterinary medical care. He graduated from University of Mexicali School of Veterinary Medicine.

I've written detailed suggestions to GEMc...

Thanks for getting information from your professional sources, AstroB.

astrobaja - 8-29-2010 at 08:46 PM

OK Mulegena,

I'm glad you were able to find a good vet for them to try! We just came from the condor field station and I asked Juan and Catalina about this kind of injury. Without knowing the extent of the type of fracture they seemed to think the chances of it flying again were slim unfortunately. But much would pivot on the quality of work done by the vet. Some chance is better than none at all! Its a hard heroic thing that people like you do helping out these wild animals but the succeses must by far outweigh the defeats!

good luck Gem!

Mulegena - 8-30-2010 at 09:30 AM

Good Luck, and again let us know how things are going, please.

Nomads really do care about Baja's wildlife...
even the Nomad kind.

Ensenada Vultures

motoged - 8-30-2010 at 05:25 PM

A rare pic of the ubiquitous "Ensenadum Vulturas"....

Mexicorn - 8-30-2010 at 07:22 PM

Please keep us up to date.
Thanks

GEMcC5150 - 8-31-2010 at 04:03 PM

With all the help and good medical care or feathered friend srecome to his injuries today. Even though he was only with us a short time he will be missed.

Mulegena - 8-31-2010 at 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GEMcC5150
With all the help and good medical care or feathered friend srecome to his injuries today. Even though he was only with us a short time he will be missed.

I am so sorry the zopolote died of his injuries.

Dr. Cota never received a call asking for his professional medical care nor did I receive a response to the detailed u2u I sent several days ago. Perhaps he received medical care for someone else.

Never the less, birds are delicate creatures. Its always a tender event when we humans are able to draw close to the natural world.

A feather floats down to earth,
a touch from the breath of God.
Fly high, my winged brother!