This Magpie was brought to a local vets on New Years Day, and then onto us. On examination the bird has no fractures or obvious injuries, its alert and a reasonable weight. However, the primary feathers (flights) have been cut, or broken, on both wings and all the tail feathers are missing. We suspect this handsome Magpie was possibly being used as a decoy bird in a Larsen trap. The Larsen trap is governed by a general licence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981. The licence allows the trap to be used for the control of Crows, Magpies, Rooks, Jackdaws, and Jays ONLY!!! This lucky Magpie is eating well and has settled in the hospital. Once it has been wormed, and regained some weight, it will be transferred to an outside aviary, where unfortunately it will have to remain for some considerable time. For this Magpie to fly well, all the cut/broken primary feathers need to be moulted out, and new ones to regrow, the tail feathers will regrow back quite quickly. Sadly this beauty will find captivity very stressful - being a wild bird it will desperately want to fly free!!
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:53:27 +0000
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