After 389 days a mighty Wedge-tailed Eagle has soared back into the sky following life-saving care at Healesville Sanctuary’s state of the art Raptor Rehabilitation Centre.
Aptly named ‘Storm’ after breaking 11 of his primary feathers during a storm-event in February 2024.
This big bird was grounded, exhausted and hungry when a thoughtful treatment plant operator rescued him at Bass, Victoria.
Vets assume the two-year-old misjudged the intensity of wild weather conditions, choosing to fly when he should have been hunkering down.
Primary feathers are essential for a bird to achieve flight. In Storm’s case, these feathers were broken mid-shaft, leaving him unable to gain lift.
Since it can take up to 18 months for feathers to fully regrow, this severely impacted his ability to survive.
Flight is not just a skill for birds; it’s crucial for their daily life and survival.
To help Storm, an innovative procedure called imping was used.
This method is akin to fitting a prosthetic limb, where donor feathers from a deceased bird are carefully matched to the damaged ones.
The hollow feather shafts are then carefully glued together to create a fully functional feather.
In some instances, bamboo is added for extra support and stability.
This process not only restores the bird’s ability to fly but also offers a sense of normalcy until its original feathers naturally moult and are replaced.
It was an arduous wait for the final feathers to grow in while maintaining flight fitness, making this eagle the longest patient to stay at the wildlife hospital.
Since then, a feather bank has been set up to help other birds in the future.
Recently, the vet team and treatment plant operator who rescued Storm returned the eagle to where he was found.
Healesville Sanctuary vet nurse Chris Stitt spent countless hours looking after Storm, and admits it was bittersweet to see him soar overhead as if to say thank you before flying off into a sunny sky.
“Caring for Storm is one of those reasons to jump out of bed in the morning. It’s a privilege to care for such a beautiful creature. Seeing him fly in the Raptor Rehab Centre took my breath away each time,” Mr Stitt said.
“He has proven all the hard work is truly worth it. We have been able to learn so much from him.
“Watching Storm returning to the wild is both sad and exhilarating. He has been a big part of our family at the Australian Wildlife Health Centre for so long. He’s an example of the great things our team can achieve.”
Westernport Water senior treatment plant operator Tony Ferres, who rescued Storm, will continue to keep an eye on him.
“It was incredible to see Storm take flight once again. A heartfelt thank you to the team at Healesville Sanctuary for their dedicated care and rehabilitation,” Mr Ferres said.
“We’re fortunate to have a resident population of Wedge-tail Eagles here, and it’s a privilege to see them thrive in the wild.”
Since the Raptor Rehab Centre opened at Healesville Sanctuary (Nov 2023), 89 raptors including 21 Wedge-tailed Eagles have benefited from this facility.
The building is one of largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and forms a continuous 100 metre loop so injured birds can build up their flight fitness to hunt for food and avoid predators in the wild.
