Buzzard finds refuge in rescue center
One of China’s protected birds is recovering from hunger after being found by a farmer in a wheat field.
Wang Xinchun, a villager in Kaifeng, Henan province, said he was surprised to find a “big bird” in his fields, and when he approached it the bird struggled to fly but failed, then lay still on the ground.
“I put it into a carton, and I gave it meat to eat, but it refused,” he said.
Wang contacted a wildlife rescue center in the capital Zhengzhou and sent photos of the bird.
It turned out to be a common buzzard, a second-class protected bird.
Deng Dajun with the Henan wildlife rescue center said the bird was so weak that it had no response. It normally feeds on rats, mice and rabbits, and after examining the bird they were sure that it was starving.
“In winter, the main problem is shortage of food. In addition, the lingering fog has made it more difficult to search for food,” Deng said.
Smog has engulfed vast northern regions and in places reduced visibility to 50 meters, the China Meteorological Administration said on Thursday.
“In 2016, our wildlife rescue center saved more than 20 buzzards, and 30 percent of those were sick from hunger. As migratory birds, they like to fly to warmer places in winter, while for those that stay in Henan, searching for food is most important,” Deng said.
Chen Zhenhui, an engineer with the Henan wildlife rescue center, said they fed a number of the birds meat and vitamins recently, and provided them with more space to fly.
“Everything is going well now, and after observing them for a couple of weeks we will pick a nice day to release them together into the wild, where they belong,” Chen said.
In winter, the main problem is shortage of food. In addition, the lingering fog has made it more difficult to search for food.” Deng Dajun, official from Henan wildlife rescue center