Raptors as Victims and Ambassadors: Raptor Rehabilitation, Education, and Outreach

From hunting songbirds at backyard feeders to circling in awe-inspiring loops above a city park, raptors make their presence known in urban environments. As raptors increasingly inhabit urbanized areas, they not only become more visible to people but encounter new opportunities and challenges (see chapter 14). Challenges can include interactions with humans or elements of the landscape that result in raptors being injured, being poisoned, contracting diseases, or in some cases, experiencing unnecessary interruptions to normal life processes by well-meaning people. But raptors interacting with humans can also increase awareness of and appreciation for the birds, fueling community interest and intensifying fascination and compassion for these charismatic apex predators, as we shall see in chapter 17. As a result, the fields of raptor rehabilitation, professional education in veterinary and rehabilitation science, and public outreach have grown. These fields are interrelated, and each one is complex, encompassing special qualifications, engagement of others, ethical considerations, and much more.