Found on the ground at Bear Valley near her nest, she was exhausted and underweight, and x-rays showed six pellet wounds in her wing. With supportive care, nearly two months passed before her strength returned. Ospreys pose two problems to rehabilitators. First, they are sea diving birds, used to seeking out prey deep under the water. Second, if they should survive and heal, they require a great deal of space to practice flying to recover strength and stamina.
Ospreys use wind currents to fly, and are most comfortable perched on high tree branches.
As a result, the rehabilitation record for Ospreys is spotty at best. The first order of business was to figure out a way to feed our patient. Most rehab centers, including WildCare, don't have diving pools, and the birds often react poorly to force-feeding. But networking with other agencies turned up an unusual, but apparently effective technique. A volunteer covered herself and the Osprey with a blanket, then force-fed the bird, blowing a whistle softly each time the bird swallowed.