Despite the hospitals best efforts, not all of the patients are able to be released into the wild. For example, "Therese" the Eastern Screech Owl pictured above, has a badly injured right eye after colliding with a building.

"Solomon", the beautiful Barred Owl below was injured in an automobile collision, and suffered from a fractured wing. His wing was surgically repaired by a veterinarian. Although the rehabilitation center had planned to release him after the surgery, it was then discovered that he was blind in his left eye. As owls rely heavily on their keen vision to hunt for prey, he was found to be unsuitable for release to the wild. Although once found on Long Island in large numbers, Barred Owls have been seldom seen here in recent years due to a lack of suitable habitat.

There are also birds that have been imprinted by humans, and have never learned to hunt, or fend for themselves. Taylor the Red Tailed Hawk is one such example. He was confiscated by the Department of Environmental Conservation from a citizen who intended to illegally keep him captive. A trial ensued, and the DEC requested he remain at their center. He could not be released to the wild because he had become too accustomed to humans.