This past week, Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center marked another meaningful milestone with the successful release of two male American kestrels North America’s smallest and most colorful falcons. Both kestrels came to us separately as juveniles, each needing help after early life challenges disrupted their natural development. Whether it was due to nest displacement, injury, or simply being too young to fend for themselves, these young raptors were in no shape to survive in the wild when they arrived.
Over the following weeks, the kestrels were carefully cared for by our rehabilitation team. As they matured, we ensured they received the species-specific diet, medical care, and environmental enrichment necessary to develop strong flight muscles and keen hunting instincts. Their time in our flight enclosure allowed them to practice vital survival skills like chasing live prey, navigating open space, and avoiding threats all while minimizing human interaction to preserve their wild nature.
Once both kestrels demonstrated they were fully flight-capable and could successfully capture and dispatch live prey, we identified a safe and suitable release site. There, surrounded by open skies and desert habitat rich with prey, the two falcons were given their freedom.
Watching them take to the air, agile and determined, reminded us of the resilience these birds carry and the importance of giving them a second chance. Their return to the wild is a small but significant triumph for wildlife conservation, and a symbol of what we can accomplish together through compassion and care. At Vida Wildlife Rehabilitation, every life matters. And every release like this reaffirms our mission: to rescue, rehabilitate, and return Arizona’s native wildlife back to where it belongs wild and free.