Originally posted: 5:05 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23, 2017

A raptor rescue among the rockets on the Space Coast, but thanks to wildlife workers, the injured bird is on the way to flying again.

  • Peregrine falcon found injured at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
  • Falcon's wing was injured; no way to know how
  • The falcon is at Florida Wildlife Hospital in Melbourne

Angy Chambers is the wildlife manager of the 45th Space Wing at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

She works with commercial space companies like SpaceX and ULA to make sure their launch operations are environmentally friendly.

She also keeps watch over the 46 state and federal endangered species on the large base.

"I think the wing does a great job of balancing missions and protecting the environment," says Chambers.

But last week, she had a first-time call among the 75-100 injured animal calls she gets yearly.

"I looked around and there was the falcon," said Bill Vance, the Naval Ordinance Test Unit's property manager.

Falcons are migratory birds that often stop on the Space Coast as they head south for the winter.

Vance arrived at work early Thursday morning to the surprise sight outside his door.

"I took a couple steps towards him, and he hobbled away, with its wing out," recalled Vance.

He called Chambers, who came right over.

"I could tell by the way it was holding its wing it was injured," she said.

Chambers methodically scooped the peregrine falcon up with a net, then made sure the hurt bird got the best care around by taking it to the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Melbourne.

The falcon's wing is injured near a joint, which could be a problem later on. They have the bird on anti-biotics to prevent an infection. Birds have hollow birds, so they heal quickly. But time will tell if he'll get flight back.

Tracy Frampton with Florida Wildlife hospital says he may even need a little physical therapy.

"He will probably go to a falconer and get retrained on flying and building up those flight muscles really intensely before they release him," she said. 

On Monday, volunteers checked the two-year-old bird's bandage and force-fed it to get it strong and on the path to healing.

The Florida Wildlife Hospital is a non-profit relying on donations if you would like to help in the falcon's care. If you would like to help, you can go to the Florida Wildlife Hospital website.