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Diurnal Raptors 331

condition for release, so maximal efforts should be made to reunite uninjured fallen chicks with
their parents. Because their nests are high, and their wings are long and heavy, chicks blown from
nests are frequently badly injured, usually suffering fractures of the wings. Unless they are found
promptly, the fracture is midshaft and repaired promptly and perfectly, the prognosis of full return
to function for these birds is poor.

Kites
Kites are most typically found in the southern states in the U.S., although the White-tailed Kite has
recently expanded its range north into Oregon and Washington from California. In North America
north of Mexico are Mississippi Kites, Swallow-tailed Kites, the White-tailed Kite (with the widest
distribution); and the Snail Kite and Hook-billed Kite whose ranges barely touch Florida and the
southernmost tip of Texas, respectively. As tree or woody vegetation nesters, young kites are most
likely to be presented for care due to windstorms, landscaping, or other nest disruption.

Falcons
Falcons found in North America north of Mexico consist of the Gyrfalcon, Peregrine Falcon, Prairie
Falcon, Merlin, and American Kestrel primarily, with the Aplomado Falcon the subject of re-intro-
duction efforts in south Texas. Falcons are typically open-country or edge habitat birds that do not
make a nest; they are either cliff- or cavity-nesters, or will take over an old corvid nest (Merlins).
Kestrels and Peregrines have adapted to human habitats, with Peregrines found in many cities nest-
ing on tall buildings, industrial towers, or bridges where suitable platforms can be found or are
placed. Kestrels opportunistically use any cavity of a suitable size, and very young birds present typi-
cally from human disruption of a nest site or because of a fall from a poorly chosen nest site.

New World Vultures
New World Vultures found in North America north of Mexico are the Black Vulture, Turkey
Vulture, and California Condor. California Condors are covered in Chapter 19, but are realistically
unlikely to be presented for hand-rearing outside a small number of specialized institutions.
However, if the population continues to grow in the wild, it may eventually become possible that a
juvenile condor would be presented for temporary care, such as if an injured fledgling was found
by a member of the public.
Turkey and Black Vultures often nest on the ground, under windfalls or in caves, and occasionally
in broken top snags or hollow stumps. Eggs or young birds may be brought into care due to logging
or development, or other type of nest disturbance. It is strongly encouraged that Turkey Vultures, of
all birds, be reunited with parents or placed in wild foster nests, if at all possible, because they are
extremely difficult to raise in captivity without excessive socialization to people. Given their highly
developed sense of smell, it is very difficult to avoid having them associate humans with food.

­ Criteria­for Intervention

As with many other species of wild birds, both parents are actively involved in rearing young.
The loss of one parent may or may not be cause for intervention. The death of a brooding female
could lead to the death of hatchlings or nestlings, because males of many species will not brood.