Release & Survival
|
Fostering for Survival
Yvonne Wallace Blane, Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital & Raptor Education Group, WI Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Yvonne and Marge have worked with dozens of species of wild birds as surrogate parents for orphaned and injured young wild birds in captivity. This presentation provides a framework for a successful fostering program and provides species- specific information for waterfowl, raptor, and songbird species based on decades of experience. |
Full Abstract
In the field of wildlife rehabilitation, there is much focus on all aspects of the rehabilitation process, including housing, medical care, diet, nutrition, and enrichment. While this is all very important, the release plan is often the most important part. Sadly, it is very common for us to spend hundreds of hours caring for patients with the result of very poor postrelease survival. Much time and energy is spent caring for patients, rearing them or assisting in their recovery, only to just 'let them go' or to simply open the door of their cage to allow a softer release. Captive-reared animals and adults with no defined territory are very vulnerable as they enter or reenter their wild home. With the goal of postrelease survival, this presentation discusses some of the considerations for releasing common species, as well as case studies on patients with more complicated concerns. |