PInched off Blood Feather

[Deleted]

I went into the mews this morning and found a pinched off blood feather on the ground. My mind immediately went to WNV. However, my bird shows no other signs. She still has an appetite, isn't lethargic, and seems in every other aspect perfectly healthy. She is free lofting and up until this point all her feathers have been growing in nicely. The only other abnormalities is that she was slow to start dropping feathers, and then when she finally got going, she dropped them really quickly (which isn't too abnormal for birds in captivity, but still a little different). Anyway, I'm trying to decide if I should get her tested right away for WNV or if I should hold off for a bit and see if any other symptoms appear. A trip to the vet would be very stressful for her right now and I'm trying to avoid stress like that during the molt.
Is that one pinched feather enough to warrant a stressful trip to the vet at this point? Could there be other causes besides WNV since no other symptoms are present?

[echotadog]

There's a Hundered and one reasons a feather can get pulled and ZERO reasons to chance Not going to the vet.
If you are worried its WNV take your hawk to the vet, don't ask the broad opinion of the Internet. A vet visit shouldn't be anymore stressful to a falconry hawk in the molt than it is during season or anymore stressful than you hooding and handling her. WNV is rampant this year nationwide and if that's what it is, you should get to the Vet now. Early onset treatment will be cheaper than waiting.
Do you have smooth walls in your mews ? Could she have gotten a feather caught in between material in the mews causing a break?
Does the hawk bate a lot in its mews? Is your hawk treated for parasite like flat flies and mites?
Like I said, 101 reasons for a pinched feather but without seeing pics of it or knowing your Hawk, you are the only one who can know to get her checked out... Go pay the $35-$70 at the vet for peace of mind, your hawk's worth that.