Falcon named Sparrow missing from Brisbane wildlife sanctuary

Residents in western Brisbane have been urged to keep an eye on the sky after a local wildlife sanctuary lost a native falcon during a routine free flight training session on Wednesday.

Sparrow, a 3.5-year-old nankeen kestrel, had been living at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket for about 18 months, having been transferred from the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

A nankeen kestrel is a small species of falcon with natural habitat that includes south-east Queensland.

Lone Pine Assistant Wildlife Curator Andrew Bryant said Sparrow was about the size of a lorikeet.

“She would only be probably about, 20 centimetres tall standing … quite a small bird compared to other raptors,” he said.

The falcon was among 16 birds at the sanctuary, but was not being considered for eventual release.

“She was brought into a wildlife hospital at an early age with a broken right foot – I believe she had a red zip tie wrapped around it,” Bryant said.

“[Her past injury] means she can’t close that foot as much, or in the same way that a normal kestrel would be able to, which does put her at a slight disadvantage.”

He said Sparrow had two free flight training sessions each week, which involve flying to and from a handler unrestrained and in an open area.

Bryant said the session had been progressing as usual on Wednesday, when the falcon suddenly caught an updraught and rapidly ascended.

“The team watched her get really, really high, to the point where they could only just sort of pick her out, and then she moved off to the side and out of sight,” the assistant wildlife curator said.

“She had a bit of an exception that day, but because of that potential risk, which is inherent in free flight, she was wearing, telemetry equipment, which is a form of a radio tracker.”

The sanctuary’s main concern was for Sparrow’s wellbeing, given she had been in care from a young age.

On Thursday afternoon, Lone Pine put out an appeal for public assistance finding the falcon, with Bryant saying the distinguishing feature would be her falconry equipment still attached to her leg.