title: Causes of Admission for Raptors to the Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Gran Canaria Island, Spain: 2003-13.
abstract: We report the causes of morbidity of 2,458 free-living raptors admitted to the Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on Gran Canaria Island, Spain, during 2003-13. The seasonal cumulative incidences were investigated while considering estimates of the wild populations in the region. These methods were used as a more accurate approach to assess the potential ecologic impact of different causes of morbidity. The most frequently admitted species were the Eurasian Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ; 53.0%), the Eurasian Long-eared Owl ( Asio otus canariensis; 28.1%), the Canary Islands Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo insularum; 8.0%), and the Eurasian Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ; 4.4%). The most frequent causes of admission were trauma (33.8%), orphaned-young birds (21.7%), unknown (18.4%), and metabolic/nutritional disease (11.1%). Local morbidity caused by glue trapping and entanglement in burr bristlegrass (Setaria adhaerens) had prevalences of 5.0% and 1.8%, respectively. The highest number of admissions during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons was observed for the Eurasian Barn Owl and the Barbary Falcon ( Falco pelegrinoides ), respectively, mainly due to trauma of unknown origin.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35413 Arucas (Las Palmas), Spain;
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montesdeoca
authors.affiliation: 2 Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Tafira Baja, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain;
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabuig
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35413 Arucas (Las Palmas), Spain;
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Corbera
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Morphology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35413 Arucas (Las Palmas), Spain;
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orós
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000293:injuries*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D020304:Raptors / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Birds of prey; causes of morbidity; raptors; wildlife rehabilitation center