Page 351 - Hand rearing birds second

Diurnal Raptors 341

Figure 20.5 White-tailed Kite chicks in a nest. Source: photo courtesy of Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

Figure 20.6 Turkey Vulture chick with white down and flight feathers emerging. Source: photo courtesy of
Lindsay Wildlife Experience.

sheath while in hospital cages, this is not possible when the feathers are growing in, because the
birds need to be able to preen the feather sheaths off.
As the birds come off their hocks (Figure 20.6) and start to flap their wings in practice flight, they
should be allowed to branch, i.e. leave the nest and move around a safe environment. If thermoreg-
ulating and eating on their own, being outside with access to ambient temperatures and correct
photoperiods, as well as sunlight, is important.
Minimum required cage sizes for pre-release conditioning can be found in Miller 2012.
Recommendations vary widely in relation to the size and needs of the species, from 8 × 16 × 8 ft.
high (2.4 × 4.9 × 2.4 m high) for kestrels, small kites, and merlins, to 20 × 100 × 16 ft. high
(6.1 × 30.5 × 4.9 m high) for Turkey and Black Vultures, Ferruginous Hawks, Osprey, and
Peregrine and Prairie Falcons. Walls should be constructed of wood or narrowly spaced wood