Raptor Care North West rehabs injured wedgies from Adam Hardy’s backyard

This backyard raptor rehabilitator funds his operation from his own pocket and some small donations. Watch as he administers medication to one sick wedgie >>>

Adam Hardy was just a young boy in Stanley when birds of prey got their talons into him.

“I just found a love of eagles and it extended to all birds of prey,”

Growing up he lived in New Guinea with his family for a period and he and his Mum would visit local wet markets and buy any raptors that had been trapped for sale.

“Mum would buy some of the birds that they had trapped like falcons and goshawks.

“She would buy them and we would release them,” he said.

Now, Mr Hardy runs Raptor Care North West out of his backyard in Wynyard with his wife Lara taking in sick or injured birds of prey such as wedge-tailed eagles, goshawks and a variety of owls.

He said humans were the biggest impediment to the survival of the species and although eagle population has stabilised in recent years there are still hurdles to overcome.

“The wedgie population is pretty stable, they are kind of adapting to how we operate as humans,” he said.

Adam Hardy of Raptor Care North West and a wedge tailed eagle with suspected poisoning. Picture: Elise Kaine

“But we are a massive impediment to these birds.”

Mr Hardy said the birds still have a lot to overcome including a reduction in suitable habitat and are frequently injured by electrical infrastructure, road trauma and poisoning.

“We seem to be just chipping away slowly and moving into their territory,” he said.

Mr Hardy has a young wedge-tailed eagle in his care at the moment who was likely poisoned by ingesting rodenticide or rat poison.

He doesn’t expect the female bird which was found at the Spreyton Racecourse to recover from her injuries as he administers high doses of vitamin K daily to try and flush out the toxins.

“I’m not even sure she’s going to pull through.”

Adam Hardy of Raptor Care North West and a wedge tailed eagle with suspected poisoning. Picture: Elise Kaine

Mr Hardy said several decades ago birds of prey were highly persecuted in Tasmania but

awareness was growing for the importance of the birds.

He keeps the public informed and updated on what’s happening with the birds through social media and frequently has visitors wanting to tour his small premises.

Raptor Care North West is entirely funded by Mr Hardy and some small private donations.

It can cost more than $50 just in fuel alone to do one rescue.

He has converted his backyard into several holding areas and aviaries for recovering birds.

“We’ve had times where we’ve had two or three boxes of birds in the laundry because the aviaries are full,” he said.

At times, there can be six or more dead eagles in his freezer awaiting transportation to research facilities in order to discover more about the iconic species.

Mr Hardy said eagles and other birds of prey help keep ecosystems healthy by helping to filter out weakness in prey populations.

Originally published as Raptor Care North West rehabs injured wedgies from Adam Hardy’s backyard