What are the basic requirements for maintaining a captive raptor?

When maintaining a captive raptor, several basic requirements are essential for their well-being and care, and these include a perch, a reliable food supply, scales for monitoring health and weight, and a bath for hygiene.

The perch provided must be suitable to allow the bird to rest comfortably while also encouraging natural behaviors. Regular access to food is crucial for maintaining the bird's health and energy levels. Scales are important for keeping track of the raptor’s weight, which is vital for assessing its health, determining feeding requirements, and preventing obesity. Additionally, a bath helps ensure that the raptor maintains proper feather condition and hygiene, which is important for flight capability and overall health.

In contrast, the other options include items that might not cover the full spectrum of necessary care elements. For instance, while items like jesses (which are used to tether the bird) and lures (for training and exercise) are useful, they do not fully encompass the basic necessities for the bird’s daily care in the way that perch, food supply, scales, and bath do. This highlights the importance of understanding the core components necessary to care for a captive raptor effectively.