Swainson’s Hawk

This hawk arrived at Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation on August 18, 2017, with a right clavicle fracture and severe emaciation, weighing in at 710 grams.

A number of these hawks presented to the clinic late summer and early fall during their migration. They were mostly juveniles who were not doing very well, and these birds have a huge migration route that takes them as far south as Argentina in South America.

He was treated with pain medication for the fracture and given our emaciation protocol for raptors, which is comprised of EmerAid Intensive Care Carnivore. The first day, the EmerAid was tube-fed four times throughout the day at a very diluted concentration (1:4). The concentration was increased every subsequent day, with the goal that the bird’s gastrointestinal could start to function normally and not be overwhelmed with the nutrition. Once on the full dose of EmerAid Intensive Care Carnivore for a few days, he was then introduced to clean meat — meaning no bones, fur or feathers — and eventually, he was allowed to eat on his own.

He was released on October 5, about 1.5 months after admission, and weighed 1.2 kilograms.