Rehabilitation

The Rehabilitation Section accepts injured, ill or orphaned birds of prey from the southeastern United States. Since SRC is part of the AU Small Animal Clinic, we are able to take in birds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, everyday of the year. Annually we take in 200-300 birds of prey including hawks, vultures, ospreys, kites, falcons, owls, eagles and northern harriers.

Birds are generally brought to the center by members of the public, a network of southeastern rehabilitators and educational facilities, and state and federal agencies. 

One of the goals of the rehabilitation section is to rehabilitate and release birds of prey back into their natural habitat. If the birds are non-releasable, we attempt to place them in permitted educational facilities if feasible. We are associated and work with the AUCVM staff in performing full diagnostics and surgery. We perform CAT scans, radiographs, ultrasounds, physical therapy and surgically repair broken wings and legs. We also work with the Thomas Bishop Sparks Diagnostic Lab to perform a variety of diagnostic tests and necropsies. Another goal of the center is to conduct research oriented towards the welfare of birds of prey. Our focus includes avian veterinary biomedicine and raptor biology.