Release of recovered individuals

It is the simplest and most commonly used method, whether for young or adults. Depending on the species can be released into the air, inside a hollow or inside a box, etc.

The nocturnal raptors, contrary on what might be thought intuitively, must be released during the day. The reason is that during the day they remain more relaxed and therefore they withstand better the stressful effect of management, transport and release. Furthermore, the bird will remain in a quiet place once released, until night comes, meanwhile it is getting familiar with the environment in a gradual way, then it will make their first inspections. Care must be taken in direct releases (because of the attacks by diurnal raptors and corvids).

The advantage of this method is that it takes little work. The downside is that the encounter with the medium is abrupt. It will therefore review the fitness and competence in the habit of hunting. Generally is not achieved that the individuals remain in the releasing area.

To the releasing of chicks, especially those species with a long period of emancipation and strong parental investment might be more sophisticated than the direct release techniques. Among them is the hacking, also called “rural upbringing”.

The aim of this technique is to establish a dependency between individuals released and release site, at least during a critical period. Conducting a hacking involves placing chickens in a cabin or artificial nest in which they grow. It may be a cabin a bottomless barrel, a nest box, bedroom, etc … must take care orientation of the opening to protect the inside of the weather, direct sunlight and rain.

Chicks are introduced when they still do not have fully developed but are able to feed themselves. Ideally the chicks can see outside but they are unable to escape. Hacking can be isolated with mesh, network, etc.

Food is supplied everyday, always with care and without scaring them, preferably without being seen. When chicks have grown they like to fly and hunt for themselves, the hacking is open so they can get.

Progressively they will go try to hunt. If you have not been successful, they can always return to the hacking where food is assured. The permanence to the site is secured by both the previous stay and food supplied. Gradually they will eat less on the hacking (as they hunt outside) until they stop returning there. The independence process is relatively similar to what occurs in nature (gradually and as they are able to care for themselves).

Be careful with the place chosen because of the potential danger that someone finds it. The drawback of this method is the great cost of time, material, etc. Required, but it has the important advantage that allows progressive adaptation of individuals to the environment.

Fixing adult individuals

The same as normal Hacking, except for the age of individuals (fully developed chicks or adults). Success is less than with not flying chicks.

Hacking of breeding pairs

It is to fix a couple in an area enclosing it in a facility until they breed. Once started breeding the hacking is opened.

Hacking unrecoverable couples

It is introducing a pair of irrecoverable birds to breed in a facility where they can’t leave but their young fledglings can.

In chicks, is to introduce natural nests of the same species. The age of development of existing ones must be taken into account (so that there is no major differences), the availability of food resources in the area, etc…

This Technique can be varied by introducing eggs in the nest and even releasing developed chicks in family groups that are still in the vicinity of the nest. It is important to have a prior control of the nest (number, size and condition of the chicks, number of preys in the nest, abundance of food in the area, etc, as well as a comprehensive monitoring after the introduction of chicken.