Rehabilitation
Raptor housing written by Mary Forness, executive director of Hawk Hideaway Wildlife Rehab Center.

In the wild, raptors are injured in many different ways. While some injuries occur naturally, most injuries are induced by humans. At Raptor Recovery Nebraska, we receive raptors with all types of injuries. Some have been hit by cars, shot, electrocuted, or collided with windows. We get reports statewide from people who have found injured raptors and don't know what to do with them.

Here are some things you should do when you find an injured raptor:

• Approach the bird from behind, if possible.
• Cover the bird completely with a towel, blanket, jacket or any light-weight item.
• Quickly restrain the bird under the covering.
• As the bird calms down, gather the covering together, being careful to keep the bird covered completely. Be sure the wings are folded against its body.
• Transfer the bird to a well-ventilated cardboard box as soon as possible.
• Contact Raptor Recovery Nebraska or the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission immediately.
• Do not attempt to treat or feed the bird yourself. Many well-meant attempts have resulted in further injury or the death of a bird.

When you find an injured raptor and you send it to a rehabilitator, do you ever wonder what happened to the bird? At the center, the bird is evaluated, fed, rehydrated, given medication, broken wings and legs are wrapped, and surgery is sometimes necessary. Raptor Recovery has several trained and nationally certified rehabilitators who have spent many years in the rehabilitation field. Dedicated veterinarians provided specialized services to the Center at reduced fees.

Birds are very fragile, and the fact that their bones are hollow, doesn't make the healing process any easier. Rehabilitators have to be aware of a bird's symptoms, which aren't always easy to find. The tiniest hole made by a cat bite can be deadly! Broken and dislocated wings must be handled very carefully so as not to aggravate the injury.

Believe it or not, surgeries and other treatments for raptors are similar to humans (except birds have no insurance). Fractures can be pinned and if done correctly, a bird can be releasable. Lead poisoning and other toxicities are treated with human drugs. Fluids are administered in the same way as humans (IV, subcutaneously, and orally).

After birds are treated, they aren't released into the wild immediately. Broken wings have to be exercised properly to get the muscle back in shape. Feathers have to be in top notch condition. Flight cages help a bird practice flying. Raptors need time to acclimate to weather changes and viewing other birds flying free makes life more interesting.

Raptors are housed in pens of wood construction with slats. Raptors housed this way have been observed peeking through the cracks and acting inquisitive but never panicky. Such pens create a less stressful environment.

Birds with severe injuries, some requiring surgical repairs, are housed in a conditioning pen during recuperation. The conditioning helps them acclimate to the outdoor temperatures and to easily move around in a natural setting with less stress. A conditioning pen is fitted with ramps, low perches, tree stumps, and medium-high perches to allow individuals to easily reach the higher perches. The "easy" part is acceptable because it will enable individuals to retrain and build stamina in the muscles and parts of their bodies that have been idle while recuperating in intensive care and post surgical facilities.

A flight therapy pen is used when raptors are rebuilding their flight muscles necessary for flying, and their leg and feet muscles for catching prey. Flight therapy pens can never be too large. The goal is for the birds to have the necessary room (length and height) to flap their wings at least four to six times or more.

As the raptor acclimates to the weather conditions and its physical condition returns to normal, it will increasingly fly back and forth. This is a clue release time is near, with sustained flight being used almost as play. When ready for release, raptors generally fly back and forth many times and at a fast pace, not stopping for minutes at a time. This is power flying.

Before a bird is released, it is banded. Not all raptor centers band birds, but we have gained valuable information from banded birds when a band is recovered. When a bird is ready to be released, suitable habitat is the first consideration and great care is taken to release adult birds back to their original territory. This way, a bird is familiar with its surroundings and may be reunited with its mate. Raptor Recovery Nebraska releases between 45-50% of the birds each year. During any given year, the center meets or beats the national average. With so many dedicated volunteers, injured raptors in Nebraska stand a fighting chance.