How wild bird rehabilitation centres care for injured and sick wild birds and what determines successful outcomes.
Wild bird rehabilitation requires a distinctive welfare philosophy: unlike companion animal care, where human attachment and contact are positive, rehabilitating wild birds requires minimising human contact to maintain their ability to survive after release. A bird that becomes habituated to human presence is more likely to approach people after release, with potentially fatal consequences. The welfare paradox of bird rehabilitation is that the most welfare-conscious approach during captivity — minimal handling, appropriate housing, and species-specific diet — maximises the welfare benefit after release by maximising survival probability. Welfare during rehabilitation and welfare in the wild are inseparable goals.