Ref.10597A BUZZARD, which spent two weeks in hospital after injuring itself, has made a full recovery and is once again free as a bird.

Aggregate Industries environmental technician Simon Mundy discovered the injured bird of prey in a field on a routine check of the site's perimeter fence, in Calne, two weeks ago.

He said the bird appeared dazed and disorientated and when it took off it flew 10ft before crash landing. Mr Mundy, 39, of Dunnet Close, Calne, put the buzzard in a box and took it to Swindon and District Animal Sanctuary in Wootton Bassett.

Sanctuary manager John Warwick said the male bird had slight injuries to one of its wings and an eye, but suspected it was in shock after hitting the ground too hard when landing.

Mr Mundy, said: "He didn't fight when I went to pick him up. I was really surprised at how calm he was bearing in mind he was a bit under the weather.

"It was quite exciting to have a bird of prey in my arms."

Mr Warwick, 45, said the buzzard, which he estimated was between four and six years old, was treated with antibiotics and put in a dark room to help it recover from the shock of its accident.

He helped the bird work out with wing stretching exercises and fed it on a diet of six chicken chicks a day.

Buzzards, which can live for up to 26 years, mate for life and Mr Warwick said it was important to release the bird back into the wild at the point where it was found.

Mr Warwick says his sanctuary helps between 1,200 and 1,400 injured animals get well, find new homes or return back to the wild, each year.

"It's a great job and very rewarding," he said.