Birds of prey require flight exercise and hunting stimulation that is challenging to provide in captive environments, with welfare implications for falconry and rescue birds.
Birds of prey have exceptionally high activity requirements that are difficult to meet in captive settings. Falconry practices that maintain birds in jesses (leg restraints) continuously reduce normal behavioral expression. Welfare depends on the quality of flying and hunting exercise provided. Rescue birds that cannot be released require exceptional enrichment and socialization with conspecifics where possible.