Air Force mascot falcon improving after injury at West Point

An Air Force falcon injured at West Point during a prank Saturday before the annual rivalry football game between the service academies is back home and showing signs of improvement.

The 22-year-old bird named Aurora "was able to fly around in her pen" on Sunday, said Air Force Academy spokesperson Lt Col Tracy A Bunko.

The development is "an extremely good sign", Bunko said, adding that the academy is "grateful for the outpouring of support and optimistic for Aurora's recovery". The falcon will continue to be evaluated and will get antibiotics to prevent infection, Bunko said.

Army officials at West Point apologised Sunday for the injuries to the falcon and promised a full investigation. "We are taking this situation very seriously, and this occurrence does not reflect the Army or USMA core values of dignity and respect," the academy said in a statement.

Sam Dollar, Air Force's falconry team adviser, told The New York Times on Sunday that two West Point cadets took the birds, threw sweaters over them and stuffed them into dog crates.

Dollar said the cadets turned over the birds Saturday morning, with Aurora's wings bloodied likely from thrashing inside the crate.

"I think they had them for a couple hours and then they realised it was a bad mistake," Dollar told the newspaper. "When Aurora started thrashing around in the crate, they decided that wasn't a good thing."