Birds of prey rapt in dedicated facility

A NANKEEN kestrel that was found covered in oil inside luxury fashion store Gucci is the latest bird of prey to be released from Byron Bay Raptor Recovery Centre.

Veterinarians from Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, which manages the facility near Ewingsdale, sought permission from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before releasing the bird at the site to avoid the stress of a long car trip back to Sydney.

The kestrel, which was given the name Gucci, had been in the care of a wildlife organisation after being found, but was transported to the hospital at Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary after she damaged her feathers in a small enclosure.

She was then moved to the Raptor Centre to recover.

Gucci is one of around a dozen birds that have been housed at the facility, which was funded by an anonymous philanthropist, since it opened last year.

Others have included wedge-tailed eagles and a barn owl. Two Peregrine falcons are also being rehabilitated there, including one that was transported from Port Stephens Koala Hospital for treatment after it became snagged in barbed wire.

The Raptor Centre features two large round aviaries and a rectangular one for smaller raptors such as owls, with ponds with running water to create a natural environment and cameras so vets can observe them.

“Birds of prey require perfect flight before they can be released because they are really good hunters,” Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital general manager of veterinary services Dr Bree Talbot said.

“They need to be 100 per cent fit and have their feathers aligned and healthy. This facility allows them to fly around in a circular movement compared to the usual rectangular aviaries to build up their fitness. It’s a big enclosure so we don’t go in there very often, minimising human contact.”