What is an essential consideration when planning to rehabilitate a bird of prey?

When rehabilitating a bird of prey, understanding their hunting and feeding behavior post-recovery is crucial because it directly impacts their survival once they are reintroduced to the wild. Birds of prey rely on specific skills to hunt and catch food, which may include techniques for stalking, ambushing, or aerial pursuit.

If the rehabilitator does not take these behaviors into account, the bird may struggle to find food or hunt effectively after its release. It is essential to ensure that the bird is capable of performing its natural behaviors that determine its success in the wild, such as how to locate and capture prey. This aspect of rehabilitation focuses on transitioning the bird from a controlled environment back into its natural habitat, ensuring it can adapt and thrive.

While minimizing human interaction, understanding social behavior, and focusing on diet are important considerations in wildlife rehabilitation, they don't specifically address the immediate practical skills and behaviors that the bird will need to survive in the wild post-recovery. Therefore, the emphasis on hunting and feeding behavior is paramount for successful rehabilitation of birds of prey.