Netherlands

[Dot]

Oh, Alison, thank you for going through the hassle of going to an internet cafe to post this great update.  Hope they move her to a bigger enclosure soon.  She looks in great shape - good to see her spread her wings.  Thanks you so much.  I will keep on praying for her.

[AlisonL]

You are very welcome, Dot! I am back at an Internet cafe again this evening; it's the only way I can post anything on this forum any more.

A new update on S2:

Calendar from November 1 until November 5, 2011

Gemert, Sunday, October 30, 2011

On Tuesday, November 1, I will once again visit the vet for an X-ray of my injured wing. I am in a larger enclosure, and there can be limitations on exercising my wings; this is good, but I often hang on to the top of the mesh of my enclosure and this damages my tail feathers. Since I have already gone through a molt and replaced my tail feathers with new ones, the people at VWG Gemert are concerned about this. I use my tail in order to steer when I am flying, so it needs to be in optimum condition. VWG Gemert wants to move me into a larger flight as soon as possible. I should probably be in a larger flight by Friday, November 4 so that I can fly around and not damage my tail feathers.

I will keep you informed of my progress, and probably by Saturday, November 5 you will be able to see some pictures of me.

Greetings from S2

I hope everything goes well with S2's vet visit, and that she will be able to be moved into a larger area, with more space for her to fly.

[dt]

She is beautiful!
She is AMAZING!

dt

[Dot]

Alison is still unable to get into the RRP Forum, but she sent me this article and video regarding S2's transfer to a Peregrine Rhab facility in Someren on 11/4.  Alison couldn't get the video to play, but I was able to see it. -- you could try pasting the link in your browser and keeping your fingers crossed.

The peregrine S2 is moved

SOMEREN - With pain in his heart, caregiver Wim van Lith released the peregrine S2, who is from the nest at the De Mortel tower, to her new temporary home.

At the Someren Bird Rehabilitation Foundation, she will continue her recuperation from surgery.

A little later:

LIEROP - The famous peregrine S2 from the tower at De Mortel was moved on Friday to the Someren Bird Rehabilitation Foundation. In July 2011, the peregrine was shot and her wing was seriously injured.

Surgery was performed on the wing in August. Thanks to the efforts of veterinarians and shelters, S2 has almost recovered and can now continue her rehabilitation in an outdoor enclosure at the Someren Bird Rehabilitation Foundation at Fens in Lierop.

Three weeks in a small flight

Because she must not place too much stress on her wings, she will remain in a small aviary for the next three weeks. One of the veterinarians who performed surgery on S2 will then examine her and take X-rays. Probably, the raptor will then be able to move into a larger flight.

The peregrine has hundreds of thousands of fans

The peregrine falcon has hundreds of thousands of fans around the world. This is due to the webcam which has been located for years at her nest box in De Mortel. Because of the number on her leg band, the Internet audience calls her S2.
Video:
 
http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?video/71833602/Slechtvalk+S2+revalideert+bij+Vogelasiel+Someren.aspx&action=media

Here is a frame from the video.

Alison, you are fantastic.  Thank you so much for keeping up with S2 and letting me know so I can pass on the information.

[dt]

No problem viewing the video in my browser.
Thank you, Alison, for the updates and the Wow! video! S2 looks SO good. Amazed at her progress. She is SO Beautiful! and such a fighter in her recovery.
Thanks, -.. --- -, for posting for Alison.
Sage bundle for S2.

-.. -

[Linda M]

Thanks so much Alison for your diligence at getting us the news about S2, and to Dot for posting.  I pray things continue to go well for her. 

[AlisonL]

Thank you for posting the update and great photo, Dot!

I am at an Internet cafe to post this, since I am no longer able to post on this forum.

Here is today's update:

The peregrine S2 at Someren

Gemert, Saturday, November 5, 2011

It was planned that on Tuesday November 1, S2 would go to the vet to have X-rays taken. This agreement, however, did not work out and it was changed to Thursday, November 3. That evening, the veterinarian Caroline Hommers took two new X-rays of her wing. Caroline was very impressed with the recovery, and said that the fractures and the holes left by the pins which had been removed were growing together very well. There is new bone forming, and everything looks good. The loose fragment has continued to fuse together, which further increases its strength. S2 appears to feel well, and she has practiced a lot in recent weeks. With seeming ease, she is able to fly straight to a perch at a height of 2 meters. She then relaxes her wing, and occasionally even lets it droop, but she has also been unable to use it for more than two months. We hope that over the next few weeks she will have fewer problems. Caroline gave the green light the following day for S2 to be moved into a larger flight at Someren to work on her recovery. VWG Gemert and Caroline Hommers have decided after consultation that she must first stay in a slightly smaller enclosure, and then will move into the large flight. As in human physiotherapy, the bones and muscles must gradually continue to be strengthened.

Friday, November 4th was the big day, and S2 went to Nistelrode at Someren! At 13:00 hours, shelter keeper and caregiver Wim van Lith placed S2 in the transport box in the presence of Luc Enting, who made a documentary film of S2. When we arrived at Someren, we were surprised by a large crowd of interested parties, including camera crews, photographers, journalists and representatives of local authorities. In the video broadcast from Brabant, you can see that S2 has been placed in a fairly large enclosure. In about three weeks, Caroline will once again visit S2 and will take X-rays to determine whether she can move into the large flight. Here she will be able to practice for a few weeks and see if she can manage longer flights. If everything goes well, then she may go to a falconer to prepare her for her return to the wild.

Next week we will make a video and take some pictures of her in the new enclosure. For now, here is the video of her move to Nistelrode at Someren.

VWG Gemert wishes to assist the veterinarians and caregivers to meet the costs which have been incurred, and to this end will soon make ??donations which will be divided among them. If you would like to continue to suppoer their work and our work, donations are always welcome; you may also donate directly to the Landhorst veterinary clinic and/or to the bird shelter at Someren.

VWG Gemert

Today I was able to watch the two videos of S2. She looks wonderful, and she is flying so well.



This is not a new photo of S2; I think it was taken after surgery to remove the pins from her wing.



http://www.vwggemertslechtvalk.nl/nieuws/60-mijn-belevenissen-van-3-en-4-november.html

[Dot]

I saw your name and thought all the problems were resolved, but guess not.  I think it's a sly plot by internet cafes to get business.  In that one photo, S2 really has her skirts in disarray!

[Dot]

I had an email from Alison yesterday.  She is still unable to post to the RRP forum, but said it was OK for me to post it.  So here it is.  A huge thank you to Alison for her translation work.  I hope Amy can look into her problem soon.  S2 looks fantastic.

From Alison:  Today a new update on S2 has been posted on the site, and it is another great one! I just finished translating it, and haven't watched the video yet. There is also a photo of S2 - she looks wonderful.
 
An update on the peregrine S2

Lierop, Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Everything is going well with the peregrine S2 at the bird rehabilitation facility at Lierop (Someren).

Today we visited the peregrine, and saw that her recovery is going well. She is using both wings well, although she cannot make very long flights because the enclosure is not large enough. This intermediate step was taken so that she may recover from her fractures in small stages.

In view of her progress, she may perhaps be able to move into the large aviary slightly sooner. We will first consult with the veterinarian Caroline Hommers about this.

The peregrine falcon will now be given a prey every two days; by the end of her stay at the Lierop facility, this will be every two or three days.

We hope that at the end of December she will go to the falconer, and will really be able to start working on her return to the wild.

This new bird rehabilitation facility has been entirely made possible by volunteers, with support from sponsors. It is located at the edge of a campsite, in a heavily wooded and peaceful environment. The accommodations are very good and shielded from the environment in order to minimize any disturbance to the birds, so that they can heal in peace.

The facility cares for birds from all over Southeast Brabant who have become sick or injured in some way. Thus, not only are numerous owls and birds of prey, swans and herons brought in, but also smaller types of birds such as pigeons, blackbirds, crows, waterfowl, etc.

Following their recovery, the birds are released at the place where they were found.

The commitment of the volunteers to run the new rehabilitation facility is very important, but donations to it are very welcome to fund this conservation work.

In the video below, it can be seen that both wing tips are being held at the same height above the tail. After she takes off, you can still that see that her "elbow" sticks out a little, but after a few seconds, this is once again aligned with her body.
 
http://www.vwggemertslechtvalk.nl/nieuws/64-update-slechtvalk-s2.html
 

[AlisonL]

Thank you for posting the most recent update, Dot! I am still unable to post on the forum; made a quick visit to the Internet cafe this evening.

No new updates yet; I hope that S2 is enjoying her somewhat larger enclosure.

[Dot]

As Alison is still unable to get into the RRP forum, she sent me the following update on S2.

Things are progressing by leaps and bounds!

Lierop, Sunday, November 27, 2011

On Saturday, November 26, the veterinarian Caroline Hommers visited the peregrine S2.

The peregrine falcon currently resides at the bird refuge at Lierop (municipality of Someren), where she continues to recover from the injuries she sustained on July 27 in the municipality of Gemert.

Caroline took some X-rays, and found that the bones are growing together very well. Once again new bone is growing around the area of the fractures. As the veterinarian Dirk Riemersma indicated previously, bone resorption will take place where the new bone is not needed, and bone will be created in those places where it is necessary. The protruding bone fragment should therefore "disappear" so probably minor surgery will not be required to remove it.

After the X-rays were taken, the peregrine was placed in the large aviary by caregiver Jarno van Bussel. Here she may make longer flights and strengthen her muscles so that she may develop more power in her wing and chest muscles and increase her fitness and endurance.

The peregrine's weight is very good; she is provided with her natural prey, which is very nutritious for her.

It takes little energy to acquire the prey which is provided, so there is a risk of becoming overweight. We have now decided to provide fewer prey, which we expect, in combination with her increased freedom of movement, will result in a better weight. This will be important later in order for the falconer to provide optimal training for her return to the wild. Caroline was so well pleased with her ??recovery that the peregrine falcon may be allowed to go to the falconer earlier.

If her recovery continues to progress well, then perhaps she may regain her freedom before the next breeding season.

If this happens, then it is expected that she will fly directly to her familiar surroundings at the tower at De Mortel. Here, she will not only become reacquainted with her mate, but will also meet his new partner. It is common, and a natural process, for territorial conflicts to take place around the nest sites of peregrine falcons and other raptors. Moreover, these conflicts are found among all birds; who knows the the battles which take place among the blackbirds in the backyard, or those of the coots in the pond in the park. Territorial battles take place over food and to secure a nesting area, and to disseminate their own genes in order to produce future generations and to preserve the species. It does not matter whether the nest sites are natural or artificial; territorial battles can take place anywhere and everywhere. Because of the many webcams which are located at various bird and animal sites, we are now "live" witnesses. We are now aware that up close, nature can be cruel and harsh, but it is also self-regulating and self-sustaining. The strongest will survive, and in order to produce healthy and strong offspring, the laws of nature also apply around the tower at de Mortel.

It is not our place to make these choices; the peregrine S2 was deprived of this right by the actions of humans and she therefore deserves to return to the wild so that natural selection may take place.

Photographs and a video will be posted later.

VWG Gemert
Things are progressing by leaps and bounds!

[AlisonL]

Thank you for posting the update, Dot! Had to make a quick stop at the Internet cafe this evening. I am so glad that S2 is making such remarkable progress.

The large aviary at Lierop; looks like a great place for S2 to fly.

[Busterbird]

I hope S2 triumphs at the De Mortel tower, too.

Nice aviary. Beautiful grounds.

[Dot]

The aviary looks beautiful, Alison.  That must be S2 on the top of the box in the second picture.  She looks great.  I am praying for a good outcome all around.

[dt]

WOW!
That is an amazing sight! She has come SO far!

dt