A bird of prey rescued by a sharp-eyed traffic warden has been released back into the wild by staff at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich.
Lee Gallagher was patrolling his patch on Merseyside when he spotted the distressed peregrine falcon.
He took the injured falcon to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange centre on London Road where it was kept for a month and checked by a vet for broken wings or limbs, then fed and cared for by staff.
It was released back to the wild by the traffic warden and staff from the RSPCA charity centre on New Year’s Day.
Andrew Smith, from Stapeley Grange, said: “It is fantastic that Lee didn’t get into a flap when he found this bird and had the calm of mind to pick it up and bring it to us.”
Mr Gallagher noticed the falcon in the middle of the road after taking shelter from the torrential rain against a wall. He noticed it was dazed and in need of help.
Mr Gallagher said: “I am used to handling birds so knew how to approach with my jacket as a shield, but I was very surprised the falcon didn’t try to peck me or attack in any way.
“It was as if he knew I was there to save him and just stayed in my arms until I got him to the car and then let me stroke the back of his head.
“It looked very confused out there in the road, and I think the bird may have hit a wall and fallen due to the fierce rain, which was almost horizontal.”
(Pic, courtesy of the RSPCA, shows Lee releasing the fit again falcon on New Year’s Day)
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