DE MORTEL 2011

gigi · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:54 am

I love the landing shots Hanny! Such precision on knowing just when to touch down!

Hanny · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:58 am

Alison · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:31 pm **Posts:** 2776

Yesterday's update on S2, posted from an Internet cafe, since I can no longer post on this forum from elsewhere:

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.

Videos:

gigi · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:11 am

Thank you for the update Alison. I must say, when it began as "With pain in his heart," my heart skipped a beat thinking that this was going to be bad news. I am relieved I was wrong about that!
:girlluv:

S2 looks magnificent and it will be exciting to follow this next chapter in her recovery.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64771

(Is anyone else having problems posting on the forum?)

Anyway...thanks to Alison, who sent me, via email, additional updates..THANKS ALISON!!!

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.

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:00 am

Thanks for the update & video, Alison! S2 has had & is still having a tough row to hoe, but it will all be worth it if she continues to improve & can be released back into the wild.

Thank you SGB for continuing Alison's update. I haven't had any trouble posting; sorry you have, Alison.