lack of prey (due to competition with brighter as it appears to thrive on a man for the medium sized mammals/ variety of smaller prey items and often birds). inhabits disturbed secondary forests. One of the most striking groups of Human persecution appears to be its such birds is the eagles. Those of the major limiting factor. Isidor's eagle and subfamily Aguilinae are perhaps the the black and white hawk-eagle both most stunning and popular. This group occur in habitats under human alter (of 30 species) not only includes the ation and are little known as to their North American golden eagle but the ecological requirements. A recent Australian wedgetail eagle and the census of the black and white hawk African tawny eagle as well. Frequently eagle has given indications that it may by Jack Clinton-Eitniear referred to as "booted eagles" they have be one of the rarest of neotropical San Antonio, Texas feathered legs down to their toes. The raptors. subfamily is further divided into those Certainly the hawk-eagle of greatest whose young are generally similar in concern is that of the Java hawk-eagle. appearance to their parents and often The island ofJava is one of the most feed upon carrion (Genus Aguila) and densely inhabited areas of the world. those whose young differ from their Previous attempts at securing the future parents and seldom feed upon carrion survival ofJava's endemic rhino and Uawk-eagIes (Genera Hieraaetus, Spizastur, tiger are less than encouraging. Java's Spizaetus, Stephanoaetus, Oroaetus, native hawk-eagle is little known to and Polemaetus). This latter group is science with its eggs as yet undescribed. Birds of prey, as a rule, are not frequently referred to as the hawk A recent visit by international raptor popular among aviculturists. I must eagles. biologists Berndt Meyburg and Jean admit, my first experience with such Encountered in forests throughout Marc Thiollay may give us some indi magnificent birds was much the same as tropical America, Africa, and Asia, the cation as to the status ofthe species but most gamebird breeders. Having a small twenty or so species of hawk-eagles their stay was limited due to lack of pheasant and waterfowl collection I derive their names from their short funds. awoke one day to discover a few less wings and long tails making them inter 1987 has been proclaimed the Inter pheasants and one rather full red-tailed mediate between the hawks and eagles. national Year of the Raptor with the hawk. Not wishing to harm the bird I They are a very diversified group Third World Conference on Birds of consulted with some of the more "sea including the largest eagle in Africa, the Prey scheduled during March in Eilat, soned" gamebird breeders who sug martial eagle (6000 grams) and the very ~ _ gested I purchase some guinea fowl. It small Malaysian Wallace's eagle (500 wasn't clear if the screaming from the grams). Taxonomically the group is birds was supposed to awaken the rather unclear as the young ofthe black gamebird breeder, who, in turn, should and white hawk-eagle look like their scare the hawk away, or if they would parents and the martial eagle inhabits run the winged killer offthemselves. In open country unlike its relatives that any event, the hawk, one at a time, prefer dense forest. killed all the guinea fowl! Fortunately it Due to most species' preference for never returned after it fed upon the last dense tropical forests, their life histories ofthe flock. are poorly documented. Even the rather This habit of killing gamebirds and common black "tyrant" hawk-eagle, domestic fowl has given the various which occurs from Mexico to Argentina birds of prey (hawks, eagles, falcons, often in disturbed secondary forests, is kites, caracaras, osprey, vultures and poorly known. owls) the collective name' 'chicken In addition to the black "tyrant" hawk~' Due to such labeling they are fre hawk-eagle, the neotropics are home to quently shot on sight throughout their three other species ofhawk-eagles: the ranges despite scientific documentation black and white hawk-eagle, ornate that many survive on diets of rodents, hawk-eagle and Isidor's eagle. The first insects and snakes. While most tem two prefer tropical forests although the perate species are wide-ranging, black and white hawk-eagle does abundant and often migratory, many inhabit riverine areas and forest borders. other species throughout the world The last species, Isidor's eagle, is found have naturally low population densities, in the forested valleys of the Andean laying but one egg and requiring many range ofnorthern South America. years to mature. The majority of these While the ornate and black hawk species remain in a defined range eagles are frequently encountered, their throughout their entire live . future is less than secure. The ornate Human persecution only further requires dense tropical forests and feeds inhibits the ability of these birds to upon large parrots, cracids and maintain genetically sound population tinamous. Both its preferred habitat and numbers as they are already threatened prey are becoming increasingly scarce. from habitat destruction, pesticides and The black hawk-eagle's future appears afa WATCHBIRD 31 c--o ...... - I rae!. It would, therefore seem appro (J) t (1) priate for u to think ofthe role raptors ..0 o pIa in their re pective eco ystem . a:: 'cu ince the purpo e ofAFA i dedicated to .~ the' conservation of bird wildlife" we 4: 15 (J) hould recall that one ofthe mo t criti C (1) cally endangered avian specie i the .~ D.." California condor. Human per ecution E o has played a major role in its population o o decline and aviculture, hopefully in its (5 J:: future urvi al. Additionally, in our Q.. hemi phere during the 1900 the cara cara endemic to the Guadalupe I land was persecuted to extinction. While bird of prey often conflict with our avicultural effort I am hopeful that our personal "ta te ' will not dictate which species will find room in our modern day arks. Through edu cation, scientific research and captive propagation not only will the future urvival of the popular species of parrots and bird ofparadise be ecured but that of the magnificent hawk-eagles The largest ofthe hawk-eagles is also Africa's largest eagle, the martialeagle. a well.• o J:: -S Due to its ability to adapt to disturbed ro > forests thefuture ofthe black hawk-eagle ..0 o appears brighter than mosthawk-eagles. (5 J:: Q.. ..co :J ro > .0 o (5 ..c Q..
(1) ..0 E o o (J) .3 c> o J:: «C 15 (J) C (1) .~ D.. E o o o (5 J:: Q.. The ornate hawk-eagle inhabits tropical forests from Me ico to Argentina.
Its strikingl contrasting coloration and its habitofperching alongri er ways and in forest borders has undoubtedly contributed to the black and white hawk-eagle s rarity throughout its range in the American tropics.
32 February/March 1987 Rare.
KEA PARROT (Nestor Notabilis)
HATCHED IN 1986
1 SEXED PAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
DKE CHISHOLM
Founding Member- International Animal Trapper, Canadian ASSociation of Zoological broker and dealer since 1966. parks and Aquariums
Specializing in the rarest Zoo animals,such as Ghost Tigers, Tarsiers, Wolverines, Kookaburras, Scarlet Ibis and Bald Eagles
Cable Address: Zooken, Mtl. 2608, Augustin Cantin, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3K 1E1 Telephone (514) 935-2646 / 931-8230