Baby wedgie saved
Raptor rehabilitation story leads to a group effort for wedgie youngster.
AFTER READING IN AG 135 about the AGS-sponsored raptor rehabilitation program run by Peggy McDonald south of Sydney, bird photographer Steve Tredinnick and scientist Dr Graham Cam decided to take an injured wedge-tailed eagle nestling to Peggy. ‘Caper’ is a young female from the Capertee Valley near Newnes, north-west of Sydney. Steve and Graham have been watching the wedgies in this part of NSW for 17 years. After a storm late last year they noticed an eyrie had fallen. A quick search resulted in their discovery of a flightless youngster, helpless and dehydrated in the remains of her nest. The juvenile has since found her wings in Peggy’s aviary, the largest free-flight aviary in Australia. Caper is now up to doing laps and Peggy says she will soon be ready for release. Peggy hopes to raise further funds to track Caper’s movements with a satellite tag.