Birds of Prey

Vultures, Condors, Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Secretary Bird

Routine examinations: Regular health monitoring should be performed approximately every 12 – 24 months, as needed based on the animal’s age, health status, or other factors or opportunistically.

Procedures:

• Review medical record
• Physical exam, including BCS
• Obtain weight
• Verify or place transponder, band, or other permanent identifier

Diagnostics – Blood:

• CBC and biochemical profile
• Protein electrophoresis
• Bank plasma
• Heavy metal blood values
• Blood parasite screen

Diagnostics – Faeces:

• Faeces for ova and parasite screen

Diagnostics – Imaging:

• Whole body radiographs if indicated
• Cardiac and coelomic ultrasound if indicated
• Digital photographs if indicated

Diagnostics – Other:

• Morphometric measurements if requested
• Oral swab, wet mount for Trichomonas screening

Prophylactic treatments:

• Anthelmintics:
• Vaccines:
• WNV vaccine (see WNV protocol for individuals heading to a WNV area)

Quarantine procedures:

• Quarantined for a minimum of 30 days
• Same procedures as for routine exam plus placement of transponder
• Same diagnostics as for routine exam, 3 weekly faecal direct wet mounts/ faecal flotation

Neonatal procedures:

New hatchlings should be opportunistically examined for signs of unabsorbed yolk, congenital defects, body condition, and external parasites.
Blood or feathers should be collected for DNA sexing.