Bird of Prey Health Group is proud to sponsor the Free Flight Conditioning for Release Program. Unique to the BPHG, this program utilizes general and master falconers for evaluation of raptors needing special handling or flight conditioning which a flight chamber cannot provide. Species of raptors entering this program range from Red-Tailed Hawks, Kestrels, Barn Owls, Great Horned Owls, Swainson’s hawks, Goshawks, Coopers Hawk, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Merlins, and Peregrine Falcons to name a few. The falconer’s role is to work with the raptor and evaluate the raptor’s free flight and ability to survive in the wild. To date, falconers have evaluated more than 200 raptors.  Some raptors may have sustained injuries that deem them non-releasable and are trained for educational purposes if they are good candidates for this. Every effort is made to prepare a non-releasable raptor for life as an educational ambassador if the raptor’s behavior and adjustment to a captive life is acceptable.

All raptors entering this free flight program are maintained under the BPHG with the proper paperwork approved by US Fish & Wildlife Service. BPHG also takes responsibility for any medical issues that may arise with the raptor during this process. 

• This is a video of a successful release of a wild peregrine falcon “Jett” that came into BPHG with a wing shot. She was placed with a master falconer after her surgery for evaluation, to determine if she, with proper rehabilitation with the BPHG “Free Flight” program, could survive in the wild on her own.