Why are some birds unreleasable?

A number of unreleasable raptors are kept at TRT for public education, and in some cases, for foster parenting. All of the permanent residents here are birds that occur naturally in New Jersey, either breeding or in migration. We don't keep exotic birds or birds not native to our area.

Some unreleasable individuals are kept for use as foster parents to raise orphaned young raptors. By using foster parents of the orphans’ own species, we can ensure that young hawks and owls learn correct behaviors and don’t become imprinted on their human caretakers. Hundreds of young orphaned raptors of many species have been raised in this manner and successfully released.