Wild bird rehabilitation centres treat thousands of injured and orphaned birds annually - welfare during care and successful release preparation are central to good practice.
Wild bird rehabilitation welfare involves difficult trade-offs between providing necessary care and minimising human habituation that reduces survival after release. Limiting human contact, using appropriate housing that allows flight practice, and providing natural food sources to maintain foraging skills are key. Release site selection - returning birds to their territory or suitable habitat - significantly affects post-release welfare. Not all birds should be rehabilitated - those with injuries incompatible with wild survival may be better served by timely euthanasia than prolonged care followed by release into unsurvivable conditions. Supporting high-quality rehabilitation centres with veterinary oversight protects both individual and population welfare.