Corky the Kestrel (Our Mascot)

Here is an article in the local Sprotbrough newspaper regarding our club and the progress of Corky the Kestrel:-

Corky & the YHC

Update of Corky from Marguerite, John & Henry:-

Corkys Convalescence

As with most things falconry related, things never seem to go to plan (well for me anyway!). When we first took on Corky we were under the impression that it was going to be a rehabilitation job – let his injuries heal, get him fit and let him go. However, his first trip back to the vets, which I thought was for the pin removing, was actually to re x-ray him. It was then I was

told his injuries were far worse than originally thought and it wasn’t a case of whether he would fly again, but a case of whether they could save his wing or not! The prospect of him not been fit enough for release was always a likely outcome, but a one winged bird!?! To me, that would not be fair and if that was the probable outcome then euthanasia would be the responsible option. However they didn’t, we had him and we were already very attached to him!

So we carried on keeping him fastened down and feeding him up. Another 4 weeks later he was back at the vets and the pin was removed. The vet seemed to think he’d done well but was still pessimistic about him ever flying. We kept him fastened down for a further week then free lofted him to give him chance to get around and give him the chance to build up his own fitness.

He broke every tail feather hopping up the netting but was getting around the various heights of shelf perches well and was enjoying looking out of the window. This new found freedom also brought the return of his feistiness and handling him became a challenge. He may only have small talons and beak but boy they are sharp! Yes - I have lost more blood because of him than I have due to my female harris!!

By now, my Harris was coming out of the moult and he had to take second place but his fitness was slowly improving free lofted so I was quite happy getting Rosie going than concentrating on him. Things didn’t go quite as planned there either – so it was at this point I dragged John in on the case. From seeking mentoring advice from others I found myself turning into a bit of a mentor to John!! Anyway, the boy done good, spent lots of time manning him back up (initially he had plans of ‘gaffering’ him – “It don’t work like that hun!”). He moved on to stepping up, we were a bit late sorting out a lure and he was coming to the fist before we got one, but he is now flying to it and starting to pass it. The one thing he does seem to be struggling with though is hovering. Maybe it’ll come but to be honest, considering the vets prognosis – I don’t think the little fella

has done bad! He even won a tussle with the local wild kestrel pinning it to the floor like he meant it!

Yes, Corky is a firm part of the family now and he won’t be going anywhere – other than with us. We cancelled camping in the lakes to take him on, but later took him camping to Edale with us! What we are looking forward to now is seeing him moult out his broken tail feathers and develop his full adult plumage. That and going back to vets and telling them how wrong they got it that is!

One of our members is successfully rehabilitating a male Kestrel called 'Corky'.  A Peek Traffic Maintenance Technician found him hobbling up the hard shoulder of the M1 & managed to captured him.  Perry, another member of our club, took him to a local vets & Marguirite is having great success with him.

Corky had the inner pin removed and was found to have only a third of his wing operational.  Therefore, the vet insisted that Corky could not be released into the wild.  Marguerite, John & Henry will thankfully continue to be his guardians and look after him throughout his life.

Here are a couple of photos of Marguerite, Henry & Corky below: