European Honey Buzzard With Wing Fracture

The following story about a European honey buzzard was submitted by Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in South Africa.

This European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) was brought in by the Roodepoort SPCA. We stabilized him, so we could take radiographs. He had a wing fracture. We diagnosed a left, distal ulna fracture.

Luckily, this injury does not require surgery. It is currently healing with the use of a figure eight bandage, cage rest, and pain medication. This type of fracture has a guarded prognosis, because the fracture is very close to the wrist joint and might cause the joint to fuse.

We will repeat the radiographs and then flight test him once the fracture has healed. If he is flighted, he will be fitted with a numbered ring. This SAFRING identifier is especially important for any future sightings, as this is a migratory bird.

After breeding in Europe, Finland, and Russia, these birds cross the Mediterranean and come down through Africa to spend the summer in Southern Africa. When it gets cooler here, they return to Europe.

It is important that he is ready to be released prior to the migration back to Europe, which normally happens at the end of March. Thus, he has to hurry up and heal!