Max Boyce lying

Description

Not long after I arrived in the Karoo I had the opportunity of getting to know a Pale Chanting Goshawk rather well.  Marie, the matron at Victoria West hospital and a close friend of the Conroys, came across a Chanter on the road which appeared to be injured and unable to take off.  She brought him to me and, under close examination, we found that both of the bird’s feet were tightly clenched and he appeared unable to open them and stand up, let alone take off.  I consulted Veterinary Aspects of Captive Birds of Prey by John Cooper – my bible for such situations – and learnt that goshawks sometimes get paralysis of the legs from vitamin deficiency.  We fed him lots of natural prey together with vitamin supplements, and his satisfaction with this treatment was evident in his merry chanting as he sat on his elbows in my studio.  In fact he was so vociferous that I named him after that famous Welsh songster, Max Boyce.