>>382219I'm not sure I can help you, since I didn't establish the center. What I do know is that, technically, all the birds are property of the US Federal Government, and we must act in accordance with a license granted by the Fed. We keep our federal license framed and on display in the office. Without a license, you can't do jack shit. It's even against federal law to pick up feathers off the ground. Yes, really.
We have a lot of documentation we fill out. Record keeping is important, in case we're audited to check that we're doing everything by the book. We weight how much food we give them, weigh the leftovers, weigh the birds, write down any observations of unusual droppings, etc.
All the birds are permanently injured in some way, so they will be kept in their aviaries for the rest of their lives. As part of their care, we do take them out on regular walks and field trips, so they're not cooped up in there 24/7.
For the details of their care, we follow the guidelines published in a book called "Raptors in Captivity: Guidelines for Care and Management" by Lori R. Arent. We also consult with the local chapter of the Audubon Society, but we are not officially affiliated with them. Like, sometimes the local Audubon Society will offer a class on "advanced raptor handling" or something, and our staff will attend.
