Our goal in rehabilitation is to promptly return healthy raptors back to their natural environment whenever possible. Treatment may include x-rays, surgery, fracture repair, wound management or basic nursing care. Always uppermost in our minds is to not make the treatment worse that the problem. We disturb the recuperating birds as little as possible to keep stress to a minimum. It is for this reason that we cannot allow visitation to our treatment facility.
Patients typically begin their rest and recuperation in an indoor enclosure.
As they progress, they will move outdoors to an appropriately sized flight cage to exercise and regain hunting skills. The hack boxes are solid on all sides except the front is slatted for viewing and ventilation. The bird is fed in the box for several days. Finally the front door is dropped to become a landing platform and the bird is free to go at choice. After release, food is placed in the box for several more days until the bird once again becomes an independent hunter.