Harley the bald eagle was admitted to TRC in August 2009 with a fractured ulna (wing) and lead poisoning. After his release in January 2010 with a backpack transmitter, Harley flew to Arkansas. | Photo by Brad Johnson
The mission at The Raptor Center (TRC) goes beyond rescuing and rehabilitating raptors. Its staff strives to practice evidence-based medicine, ensuring that every step taken in its raptor rehabilitation hospital is grounded in scientific research. However, since its start 50 years ago, the field of raptor medicine is still developing, and scientific data is often scarce. This is where post-release monitoring becomes a vital tool.
The purpose of post-release monitoring is simple yet crucial: to determine if rehabilitated birds are thriving after they’re released back into the wild. TRC takes every precaution to prepare these birds for release, but without feedback from the wild, staff can’t be certain that their efforts were successful. Since raptors can’t send updates or respond to requests for follow-up visits, TRC needs other ways to track their progress.
Historically, TRC has used aluminum bands to monitor released raptors. Since banding birds began, staff members have placed thousands of bands under a federal permit. However, this method has its limitations. The return rate for bands is low—less than 10 percent for raptors—because the band must be recovered, typically when the bird is found deceased or recaptured. The data received is minimal, often just the band number, the bird’s status, and the location. While valuable, this information is limited in helping TRC dive deeper into how it can refine rehabilitation techniques.
Despite these challenges, TRC has celebrated some incredible success stories. For instance, a red-tailed hawk treated at TRC after being hit by a truck lived for 16 years post-release. Another success is a young great horned owl fostered into a new family by TRC was found 22 years after its release, setting a longevity record for our program.
Looking to the future, TRC is “gearing up” for the use of GPS backpacks for post-release monitoring. Unlike bands, GPS backpacks provide real-time data, offering a wealth of information about a bird’s movements, behaviors, and survival. This technology would allow TRC to answer specific scientific questions, such as the efficacy of renesting and fostering techniques and the long-term outcomes of birds treated for lead poisoning or fractures.
This will not only enhance understanding of raptor rehabilitation but also strengthen the ability to contribute to the conservation of these majestic birds. By combining past experiences with this technology, TRC is poised to make even greater strides in ensuring released raptors continue to soar.