Raptor rehabilitation is a field of veterinary medicine dealing with care for sick or injured birds of prey, with the goal of returning them to the wild.
Raptor rehabilitators often use falconry techniques or gain assistance from falconers to exercise the birds prior to their release, as their muscles often atrophy during their convalescence.
[4] Birds that have been poisoned may require treatment and rehabilitation if the amount of lead in their blood is greater than 0.4 parts per million.
[6] Raptors that experience collisions, with cars, windows, or barbed wire, often have broken bones that require rehabilitation.
[8] Raptors that have undergone rehabilitation and treatment are assessed on whether they are fit to be released back into the wild depending on flight quality (i.e., flight symmetry, lack of excessive panting, and the ability to gain altitude from the ground), and their ability to catch live prey; eagles and vultures are exceptions.
[7] Except for threatened and endangered species, post-release monitoring is not common due to its costly and time-consuming nature.