North America's tallest bird has recovered from 15 individuals to over 500, but migration hazards, lead poisoning and climate change create ongoing welfare challenges.
Power line collisions cause immediate traumatic injury and death, or wing injuries requiring euthanasia. Lead poisoning from ingested shot fragments causes neurological impairment over days to weeks. Captive-reared birds learning migration routes face heightened predation risk and environmental stress. Severe weather events are increasingly disrupting migration timing and wintering habitat quality.