Black Kites are the most common bird of prey in Nepal so it's no surprise that we get quite a few handed in to us. Over the years we have rescued more than 20 Black Kites. Some are brought in with minor injuries or illnesses. They may have eaten some poisoned food that was intended for something else, or suffered injuries at the hands of some local kids with catapults. Catapulting birds is the sport of choice here in Nepal, and no species is spared, if it's in range, it's a target.

Luckily we are able to release most of the Kites that we see, a few days in the recovery aviary with lots of food and water and they are good to go. Others need a little more time and may never be released.

Holly is one such bird, she was brought in to us during the 2008 monsoon with a wing injury. At first we thought it was broken but on closer inspection we realised it was a damaged tendon. There was also an open wound to the underside of the wing.

The wound was treated and the wing was strapped up for a few weeks to keep in secure then she was left in the recovery aviary.

After a few weeks we removed the bandage, the wing was drooping slightly but this was to be expected. We placed a few perches around the aviary to encourage her to move around. Within an hour she was flapping her wings and hopping - albeit a bit clumsily - around the aviary, even managing to reach the higher perches.

A couple of months had past and the 2008/9 season was approaching so it was decided that the best and quickest way to get her fit enough so that she could be released, was to train her to fly with us. Every now and then a bird comes along that just responds to training well and Holy is one of them. She has a lovely amiable disposition and in just 3 short weeks she was was flying free. We started the glider work with her as soon as we could, she was a little nervous at first but got more confident after just a few sessions. She is now doing long distant flights to the fist and short flights to an inflated glider whilst ground handling, we are just waiting for the right day so she can have her first real flight with the gliders.

Throughout the training she has reminded me of one of our other Black Kites, Brad, highly motivated and incredibly tenacious. Hopefully one day she will join Brad in the air and become his Parahawking flying partner.

(Note: Thanks to Christina Hauschildt for the pictures)