Published at 12:07, Wednesday, 17 September 2008

A PEREGRINE falcon accidentally snared by a Barrow shipyard crane has been rehabilitated, to the delight of her rescuers.

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BAE Fire and Incident Liaison Officer, Dave Stevenson, scaled a 40m crane to save the bird after she became trapped by cable as she flew out of the nest.

As the chick panicked the wire tightened around her claw like a tourniquet.

Sadly the peregrine lost her claw, but three months later she is settled into her new aviary at Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary in Bamber Bridge.

Andy Bilsborough, who runs the sanctuary along with a dedicated team of non-paid volunteers, took care of the bird after she had her foot amputated.

He said: “She is very bright eyed and content in her new home.

“We have called her Peggy and we hope that one day we will take in a male peregrine and pair them together.”

Peggy is in good company. She is the third peregrine falcon Turbary has rescued this year and joins a collection of more than 90 birds of prey, including eagles, hawks, owls and vultures.

Mr Bilsborough said: “One was successfully hacked back and returned to the wild while the other one had been so severely imprinted on by humans because of an inexperienced rehabilitator that she cannot go back.

“She and Peggy are used for conservational education at the sanctuary.”

Turbary Woods rescues more than 70 owls and birds of prey each year and is open to the public seven days a week, all year round.

Mr Stevenson said: “This is great news.

“I am very pleased that she is doing so well.

“We were very worried that after the rescue from the crane here at BAE, she may not survive with only one foot. So to see how big she has got is a big relief.

“Myself, and the rest of the emergency team at BAE Systems Submarine Solutions are delighted she is doing so well.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk