Bird Cams Around the World

Good morning all---before you get excited, I'm only here to post a single update on NX, for those of you who are not following the WCV website or Facebook pages. Nx was ALIVE this morning--always a good way to start any day. She had deficated profusely, due to the fluids she was given last evening. This is also a good thing because it shows that her "systems" are working properly, and she is digesting her food. Later today, Dr. Dave and team will anesthetize her and take the x-rays we were unable to take yesterday, when she arrived (due to her having had a full crop). That will give us a very good idea of the extend of the injuries to her right wrist, and will let us know if there are other skeletal issues. After that, we'll have a better idea of her prognosis. Stay tuned. We'll update things as news is available. (Read this to suggest that calling, emailing, or otherwise asking for new news will not hasten the process.)

Ed Clark, WCV:
Good afternoon everyone. We have the afternoon update on NX. As you have heard from Congo, we found a few more issues than could be detected without xrays. Here is the text of Dr. Dave's report:

December 3 examination

On the morning of Saturday, December 3, NX was anesthetized for radiographs and a physical examination. Dr. Dave found an open wound on the left wing [flushed and sutured]; a ruptured airsac; a left-eye injury; and soft-tissue swelling over the right wrist [although the bones and tendons seem fine].

Two additional areas of concern:

GI tract. NX regurgitated overnight; her crop was empty this morning. NX will be given some mice/small chunks of rat this evening to see if she will eat. Dr. Dave would like to take a look at NX’s GI tract within the next week, using the Center’s new endoscope.

Left shoulder. NX’s left shoulder looks slightly drooped, and there may be a slight decreased range of motion. Dr. Dave spotted what might be a small fracture on the head of the coracoid; additional radiographs [after shoulder swelling has subsided] may provide more insights. To be on the safe side, the Center vet team wrapped NX’s left wing in a body wrap.

Dr. Dave thinks these injuries are consistent with NX having been struck by a vehicle.


So, there you go. Nothing too shocking, actually. All of these injuries are relatively "normal" for a bird that has been hit by a car. She had been in the area where she was injured for about 24 hours, but we cannot know when during that period she actually sustained the injury...or even if there was more than one incident. We can only deal with what we do know, and that is as we have stated. It is far too soon to make a prognosis, but we remain optimistic.

Post Script: ... Don't let the long list of issues alarm you. The big thing at this point is the possible fracture of the coracoid (sort of like a collarbone, but in birds) and the injure to the right wrist. The good news is that the wrist looks normal, but swollen from the apparent impact. We are listing all the details, because we keep complete records in our medical files, and we want to be sure that no problem, even if slight, is overlooked in follow-up care.