Flying Free

Every year, hundreds of wildlife rehabilitation facilities treat thousands of injured and orphaned birds of prey, also known as raptors. When the birds arrive at these facilities, there is often a difficult decision to make:   either to begin treatment or to euthanize these birds humanely. The animal's welfare and long-term quality of life should be the priority in the decision making process. What is the likelihood the bird will survive? Once the bird is released, what is the likelihood the bird will survive in the wild?

The Centre for Conservation Research examined these issues through its Flying Free: Assessing the rehabilitation and survival of injured raptors project. For many years the Calgary Zoo was Alberta 's main wildlife rescue facility. With the exception of endangered species, the Zoo has now passed its wildlife rescue program to private wildlife rehabilitation facilities.

In partnership with the Zoo's veterinary team, the Centre's researchers compiled the Zoo's extensive medical records on injured and orphaned raptors into a database. With over 1700 detailed records, reach representing individual birds, this resource is now one of the most extensive and in-depth banks of information on injured raptors. Through statistical analysis, the team has determined the likelihood of an injured raptors survival given a wide number of variables such as the type and location of injury, combinations of injuries and the bird's condition on arrival. This information has been compiled into a user friendly handbook for wildlife rehabilitation centres to aid them in the decision making process of raptor rehabilitation. The Centre's researchers are also currently preparing this study for publication in a scientific journal.