Wounded Osprey, Few Bloody Pics

On my way home this evening I notice cars pulled off the roadway. As I approached them I noticed some people around an Osprey on the side of the road. I stopped to render my assistance. I informed them that there was a Wildlife Hospital close to where I live. Well being who I am I got a beach towel from my truck and wrapped the hurt Osprey up and held it tight against my body as another kind person drove my truck to the hospital as his wife followed. The place was closed so we placed the Osprey in a drop off cage. None of us wanted to leave the hurt raptor alone. Shortly a staff worked came out and took the hurt Osprey into the building. I know the Osprey had a cracked beak and blood in the mouth and a hurt eye. Unknow of any other injuries at the time.

Cool thing was I got to hold this powerful bird and it never tried to freak out or tried to claw me or bite me. I actually got rub it's head to try and calm it down on the ride. The story the people told was the Osprey had a fish and was flying back to it's nest. It dropped the fish on the road. They say it flew down to the road to retrive the fish and as it tried to fly it struck the car head first. I took a few pics after we got to the Wildlife Hospital of the injuries. Oh, and to let you know Osprey smell really bad of fish!!

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Oh that poor bird. I really hope it recovers. So glad you were there to help save it. Impressive talons!

Oh man, I hope he ends up being ok, thanks for sharing and taking care of the poor guy

Ouch, he doesn't look good with that head injury. I hope they can save him.

There has been a late night show on PBS twice recently, about a rehab center near here. They get a lot of eagles, and they show the person holding the bird just like a human baby, on his back but with a firm grip on both legs. The feet are capable of breaking human arm bones, and the talons can puncture arteries, so you have to be really careful. But when held like that, the birds are very relaxed and don't fight.

His right eye doesn't look good. It is turned to the front an awful lot.

Hope it recovers.

Wow. Hope it gets better soon. Nice pictures!

Aww hope he's ok, well done for helping the little guy

Wow Mitch, I never really thought about the talons being able to do that much damage. Good thing this bird was fairly calm to begin with. The beach towel was a good idea and I did hold it in a manner you would a young infant. Kept the wings closed and a tight grip and the talons away from my legs as we drove. The beak on these raptors is amazing, it would turn it's head towards mine and I got quite a close up view of it. Glad it was not in the mood to take a bite out of my face. But it all worked out for the best. I am going to call the hospital later on to see how things are going with it.

The towel was a good idea. It would keep the wings from flapping. And I've never seen an Osprey up close to compare it to an eagles size, but, talons are talons.

I'll be interested to hear how the poor guy is.

Thanks for sharing, I hope he is going to be ok.

Looks like the right eye is damaged as well--maybe internal injuries but in the pictures it looks like it is going to make it. How sad...hate it when things like this happen. They just don't understand cars,etc. Thanks for being a Good Samaritan!
Karen

Just called the hospital. They said so far the Osprey is doing okay, but it was still to early to tell much. But I received some more information from the staff. The lady that came out to get the Osprey yesterday was a little upset. She did not say much, but we could tell with her demeaner. I found out today with my phone call some good advice. Appently Osprey are the most high stressed raptors out there. I was informed that with an injured Osprey just the human contact is enough to stress them out and kill them. I was told that after we dropped the raptor off at the hospital we should of closed the cage and let the bird rest. The couple that went with me tried to give it water. This I believe is what upset the staff worker that came out to get the Osprey. I know from rasing some of my own exotic animals that they get stressed out, but it's different with Osprey I was told. She went as far as to say when they house them they must be kept away from all the other birds and are isolated in thier own area. Good info to know from now on. In the furture if I find another hurt raptor I will make the call, transport the raptor and leave it alone in the drop off cage. I guess that is the most that can be done for the time being. The Osprey was really calm the entire time we transported it to the hospital.

[QUOTE=DonE;3134115]Ju​st called the hospital. They said so far the Osprey is doing okay, but it was still to early to tell much. But I received some more information from the staff. The lady that came out to get the Osprey yesterday was a little upset. She did not say much, but we could tell with her demeaner.

And you are supposed to know this HOW??? Seems to me she should be grateful that you rescued a hurt bird, and maybe told you that info for the future. You did what you (and I and probably all of us here) thought was the right thing to do. Certainly that bird wasn't going to be ok left where it was.
<sigh> I just don't know aobout some people....
Karen

If there is a "what goes around, comes around" karma in this life you should be due a little positive payback somewhere down the line. Great story...!

Thanks for the update on the osprey, but I too, think the staff could have been nicer. Those of us who love and respect wildlife try as best we can to help, when we see an injured animal or bird. Sure, you don't want it more stressed than it needs to be, but offering it water? Sounds like that may be something to relieve stress and possibly make the bird more comfortable. How did you know how long it may have remained in the holding cage? I think you did a wonderful thing trying to help.