Birds admitted to the Carolina Raptor Center are immediately examined and treated.
Local veterinarians donate their time for x-rays and surgery.
A bird may spend from a few days to a few weeks in intensive care before it is moved outside to an exercise cage. The final stage before release is spent in a large flight cage, where the bird is encouraged to fly and build up its flight muscles. An attempt is made to release the bird near the location where it was found, if that is possible and appropriate. After several years of planning and fundraising, construction on the new facility is finally complete.