Bird Cams Around the World

Pa & VV

Slechtvalk S2 overleden

zondag 14 oktober 2012 | 13:27 |

SOMEREN/DE MORTEL - Slechtvalk S2, één van de meest bekeken slechtvalken in Nederland, is vrijdag overleden. Dat heeft Teun Pelser van het Vogelasiel in Someren zondag bekendgemaakt.
Zie ook:

Slechtvalk De Mortel neergeschoten
Slechtvalkvrouwtje herstelt wonderwel van operatie
Slechtvalk S2 onder hoede van Vogelasiel Someren

Waar het dier aan is overleden, is nog onduidelijk. "Er is zaterdag sectie verricht en het is nu wachten op het rapport", aldus Pelser.

Het wel en wee van de slechtvalk is jarenlang door veel vogelliefhebbers uit binnen-en buitenland gevolgd. Haar nest, op een hoge toren in De Mortel, werd 24 uur per dag door een webcam in beeld gebracht en die beelden zijn op internet uitgezonden.

In juni 2011 werd de vogel neergeschoten met hagel. Het beest werd door een plaatselijke dierenarts geopereerd en S2 herstelde wonderbaarlijk goed op haar onderkomen bij het Vogelasiel Someren, op camping De Somerense Vennen.

S2 was op het moment van overlijden bij een valkenier in de provincie Zeeland, waar het dier nog meer getraind werd. Het was de bedoeling om haar uiteindelijk weer in de vrije natuur los te laten.

© Eindhovens Dagblad 2012,

I know--I feel the same way DEF. I was so looking forward to her being set free & hearing that she was doing well back in the wild.

What terrible news. I am numb.

She was só close to being free and wild again . . . . .

I'm in shock, this is not good after all she has been through. I'm so so sorry! Heavy heart!

that's right indeed Skygirlblue.
They are awaiting the conclusions (findings).
Edit:
I wrote to the VWG. Martin Vink answered.
They feel as crashed down. "It's so sad.. We almost could free her."

My heart is breaking and my stomach in knots! This will be a tough one to get over. I loved this girl almost as much as our Beauty here in Rochester...

There is an article on VWG:
An invasion of flylarves caused S2's death. The desease is called myiasis..
Veterinary Pathology: any disease that results from the infestation of tissues or cavities of the body by larvae of flies.

http://www.vwggemertslechtvalk.nl/nieuw ... 19-04.html

I cannot take in this news. It does not seem real.

Thanks for the link, adriaantje...but, I must say, after reading the (poorly) translated version, I'm feeling even more sick. I need to research this issue more, but I just don't get how this could have been missed. .I am sure everyone who worked with her is just devastated. .I am still just speechless, and sometimes when I hear of such incredibly sad news it makes me want to quit watching these nests. . I just get way too attached to some of these birds. .but then I try to remember all the wonderful and fun stuff we get to experience. .just right now, that doesn't seem to matter. .

Here's the rather pathetic translation. . I'm sure we'll get a better one later. .

Peregrine S2 earlier this week unexpectedly died. Section by a veterinarian revealed that her death is a result of an invasion of fly larvae. All involved are very upset by the death of S2. This feeling is further enhanced because she was about to successfully return to nature.

The known peregrine S2, which since 2007 successfully brooded on the tower in De Mortel, was found last year with a broken wing. Further investigation showed the broken wing due to a shotgun. Veterinarian Caroline Hommer succeeded with Dirk Riemersma the wing fracture surgery to repair. After several months showed the wing sufficiently recovered. Her release was delayed until this fall. Her place on the tower was already occupied by another peregrine, and we wanted to save her a territory battle.

Under the responsibility of the bird asylum Someren, the peregrine housed in a quiet environment where, pending the release further could recover and moult. Last month, she was transferred from there to a falconer for the final phase of the rehabilitation process. The falconer would the loss of condition, caused by captivity, to rebuild. Then she'd be able to independently prey to catch.

The falconer, very knowledgeable and experienced with peregrine falcons, was about to begin the training. This has waited until the last wing feathers were grown. It was estimated that S2 well could fly and released a few weeks could be justified.

The peregrine falcon falconer exceeded earlier this week morning dead. S2 had just eaten the night before and had shown no sign of illness. Raptors show that usually very late, because they can not afford to be sick. Even when, after several days of illness would recover, then they are in the wild so weakened by lack of food that they will not be able to catch prey and are often doomed. The probability is high that the predators than prey themselves as being seen. For these reasons they go through to the bitter end.

Upon further investigation by the falconer showed that the lower body was affected. Precisely because he was awarded falcon has a rest to fully molt, the damage was covered by the springs and the falcon itself has shown no signs of illness, that he can not perceive. The falconer is very upset that this is right for him, at this particular bird and in this phase is done.

Peregrine S2 is then transferred to research vet Caroline Hommer. It found that the cause of death is the result of an invasion of maggots either fly larvae, called myiasis. The larvae feed at a certain stage of their life with dead or living tissue of a host. Maggots usually live in cadavers, but can also invade viable tissue, mainly through an open wound. An adult fly lays eggs on the scene, after which shortly after laying hatching. Under ideal conditions, the eggs hatch within a few hours and the larvae through the skin towards the abdomen go. They cause massive tissue destruction. This can result in death within 24-48 hours suffering. A final radiograph confirmed undeniable that this was S2. The white color ring S2 and the base ring of the migratory station were indeed temporarily removed due to the training provided straps. A brief explanation of Caroline Hommer is below this message.

Alas, alas This brings an end to the extraordinary story of S2. The famous, if not the most famous peregrine in recent years. We had her so happy a new future and awarded us were already preparing to release her. English Radio Engineering had a special station S2 which we made a few months after its release could follow and that would then lose weight. Movies grafting was ready for her first wing beats in the air to film the documentary about S2 would be made.
It was not meant to be, the story ends here abruptly.

The Vogelwerkgroep Gemert thank all those who in recent months have made efforts for peregrine S2. The vets, the Bird Asylum Someren, the falconer, BirdLife Netherlands, the Working Group Peregrine Netherlands, all donors who have contributed to the rehabilitation of S2 and all her loyal followers who all these years have admired.

Statement Veterinarian:
Cause of death peregrine S2

To be 100% sure that we are indeed dealing with S2, there is first an X-ray of the right wing. This are clear to see the old fractures. However, it is also evident, that all bones again well grown together. There would therefore be no doubt as to the fine again function correctly with this wing. Unfortunately, we can not perceive.

During the section in which S2 is performed is found that this is an invasion of deceased or maggots or fly larvae, called myiasis. The larvae feed at a certain stage of their life with dead or living tissue of a host. Maggots usually live in cadavers, but can also invade viable tissue, mainly through an open wound. An adult fly lays eggs on the scene, after which shortly after laying hatching. Under ideal conditions, the eggs hatch within a few hours and the larvae through the skin towards the abdomen go. They cause massive tissue destruction. This can result in death within 24-48 hours suffering.

With pain in my heart I say goodbye to S2.

It's been very nice with S2 and all the people around them to work together in order to contribute to a piece of reserves
of the Dutch fauna. Unfortunately, this particular bird we still too early decreased.

Drs. Caroline Hommer

We have been waiting for this first survey of Caroline Hommer about the death of peregrine S2 and unfortunately you have to be very poor and intrieste message state. She was so close, and then it still wrong!

VWG Gemert
Arno Teunissen and Martin Finch

The necropsy report from Caroline Hommers, the vet that also operated S2.

Verklaring Dierenarts:

Doodsoorzaak slechtvalk S2
Om er 100% zeker van te zijn dat we hier inderdaad met S2 te maken hebben, is er eerst een röntgenfoto gemaakt van de rechtervleugel. Hierop zijn duidelijk de oude breuken te zien. Echter is ook duidelijk te zien, dat alle botten weer goed met elkaar vergroeid zijn. Er zou dan ook geen twijfel hebben bestaan over het weer prima kunnen functioneren van deze vleugel. Helaas zullen we dit niet meer kunnen waarnemen.

Tijdens de sectie welke op S2 is verricht is geconstateerd dat deze is overleden aan een invasie van maden of wel vliegenlarven, Myiasis genaamd. De larven voeden zich in een bepaald stadium van hun leven met dood of levend weefsel van een gastheer. Maden leven meestal in kadavers, maar kunnen ook vitaal weefsel invaderen, vooral via een open wond. Een volwassen vlieg legt eitjes op de bewuste plek, waarna deze kort na het leggen uitkomen. Onder ideale omstandigheden kunnen de eitjes binnen enkele uren uitkomen en kunnen de larven zich door de huid richting de buikholte begeven. Ze veroorzaken een massale weefseldestructie. Dit kan binnen 24-48 uur tot de dood lijden.

Met pijn in mijn hart neem ik afscheid van S2.

Het is heel prettig geweest met S2 en alle mensen eromheen samen te werken, om zo te kunnen bijdragen aan een stukje behoudt
van de Nederlandse fauna. Helaas is deze bijzondere vogel ons toch te vroeg afgenomen.

Drs. Caroline Hommers

Translation:

Statement Veterinarian:

Cause of death peregrine S2
To be 100% sure that we are indeed dealing with S2, we first took an X-ray of the right wing. This clearly showed the old fractures. However, it was also evident, that all bones were well grown together again. Therefore there was no doubt that the wing would have functioned perfectly again . Unfortunately, we will never witness that now.

During the necropsy on S2 it is found that it is an invasion of maggots or fly larvae, called myiasis, that has caused her death. The larvae feed at a certain stage of their life with dead or living tissue of a host. Maggots usually live in cadavers, but can also invade viable tissue, mainly through an open wound. An adult fly lays eggs on the scene, which hatch shortly after. Under ideal conditions, the eggs hatch within a few hours and the larvae go through the skin towards the abdomen. They cause massive tissue destruction. This can result in death within 24-48 hours.

With pain in my heart I say goodbye to S2.

It's been very nice with S2 and all the people around her to work together in order to contribute to preservation of a part of the Dutch fauna.

Unfortunately, this special bird was taken away too soon.

Drs. Caroline Hommer

I'm lost for words

Of all things to die from! :(