Peregrine falcon Monarch is on the mend after taking its first flight and fracturing its leg.
Monarch was admitted to DCHS’s Wildlife Center last week after a rough first flight. The raptor is on cage rest after surgery to stabilize its fractured leg.
The raptor seems to be doing well according to DCHS Wildlife Center staff. He is eating on his own and alert.
“The wildlife team expects the fixator and pins to remain in place for three to six weeks while the fracture heals, during which Monarch will remain on strict cage rest,” a statement said. “As his recovery progresses, he’ll move to a small outdoor flight pen to begin rebuilding his strength through self-guided physical therapy before eventually graduating to our large pre-release conditioning flight pen.”
The goal is to get him back to his family, including sister Honey, before migration. If he cannot make it by then, he will be rehabilitated to do so later.
To help Monarch, MGE Foundation is donating $15,000 to DCHS’s Wildlife Center to build two new raptor mews, which are specialized outdoor rehabilitation enclosures.
