What makes a Raptor Releasable?

TO BE A VIABLE RELEASE CANDIDATE, A RAPTOR MUST:   

1.        BE FULLY COORDINATED IN FLIGHT.

2.        BE ABLE TO SEE PERFECTLY.

3.        BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A STANDARD FLIGHT AVIARY

          (25m X 5m X 5m) WITHOUT SHOWING ANY FLIGHT OR

           FITNESS DEFICIT.

4.        HAVE A COMPLETE SET OF TAIL FEATHERS AND PRIMARY FEATHERS.

5.        HAVE NO PERMANENT FOOT IMPAIRMENTS.

6.        BE OF MAXIMUM WEIGHT WHEN RELEASED.

7.        NOT HAVE ANY BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS - i.e. IT MUST NOT BE SOCIALLY,  

           SEXUALLY OR DUAL IMPRINTED. 

TIME OF RELEASE: 

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OWLS, EARLY MORNINGS SHOULD BE CHOSEN FOR THE FINAL LIBERATION OF RECOVERED RAPTORS.

SMALL RAPTORS SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED DURING COLD PERIODS AND IDEALLY, SPRING OR SUMMER SHOULD BE OPTED FOR.

REMEMBER, DO NOT RELEASE ANY RAPTOR IN ANY AREA IF THERE IS A CHANCE OF TERRITORIAL DISPUTES, IN OTHER WORDS DO NOT RELEASE AN EAGLE IN AUGUST IF YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A RESIDENT PAIR IN THE VICINITY.  IF YOU HAVE TO, THEN RELEASE THE BIRD DURING A TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE WILD RAPTORS ARE NOT BREEDING OR HAVE ALREADY STARTED INCUBATION.

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