U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Raptors Diurnal and Nocturnal of Prey

What Is a Raptor? Many long-distance migrants, such as A raptor is a of prey that is known for Swainson’s and Broad-winged hawks, have its predatory habits of feeding on other experienced declines due to animals. This group of birds possesses destruction and hazards such as several unique anatomical characteristics use in their wintering grounds. Swainson’s that allow them to be superior hunters. Hawks breed in the western and These include excellent sensory abilities midwestern U.S. and Canada and migrate such as binocular vision and keen hearing in all the way to central for the Migratory Bird Management order to detect prey, large powerful winter. Conditions on the migratory route grasping feet with razor-sharp talons for as well as in the wintering countries have catching prey, and generally large, hooked had a major impact on their populations Mission bills that can tear prey. There are 30 returning to the U.S. each year. species of hawks, falcons, and eagles, as To conserve migratory bird well as 18 species of owls breeding in North Many grassland raptor species, including populations and their America. In this large group of birds, Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, , and for future generations, through there are diurnal, or daytime, species, such as hawks, falcons, and eagles, and Burrowing Owl, have sharply declined in careful monitoring and effective nocturnal, or nighttime, species, such as many locations over the past few decades management. owls. The Barn Owl is the preeminent as their grassland habitats have been nighttime hunter. With its facial disk and greatly altered. asymmetric ears, it has a keen sense of hearing which allows it to detect and capture prey in complete darkness.

Should We Be Concerned About the of Raptors? Yes. Throughout the 20th century, raptors were impacted greatly by human disturbances such as habitat loss, shooting, and environmental contaminants. Many raptor species such as the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon sharply declined as a direct result of use of the pesticide DDT. However, their numbers have rebounded since DDT use was restricted in the 1970s. The Peregrine Falcon was recently removed from the list of Endangered and in the U.S. (25 Aug 1999), and the Bald Eagle was recently proposed for delisting (6 July 1999) due to its increase from 417 pairs in 1963 to 6,334 pairs in 2000. Barn Owl Not all raptor species are declining. Some We are currently involved in a multi-year raptor species have benefited from human project on surveying populations of disturbances, including woodland species Golden Eagles throughout their range in such as Sharp-Shinned and Cooper’s the western U.S. Despite its size, little is Hawks. The increase in home bird feeding known about population numbers of this has directly resulted in increased numbers species, and this information will allow us of these bird feeder predators. to estimate population numbers and trends as well as reproductive productivity. This What Are We Doing for Raptors? information is important for management The Migratory Bird Management of the species in the face of increasing Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife human pressures on the western Service is engaged in numerous activities to landscape. ensure that raptor populations remain healthy. The Service is working with the Canadian Wildlife Service on conservation of the Every five years, the Program publishes a Burrowing Owl, a shared species that has Cooper’s Hawk comprehensive list of birds of undergone significant range-wide credit: Alan Brooks conservation concern. There are 9 population declines, particularly in Canada. raptors (19% of all North American raptor We have just completed a range-wide species) on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife status assessment for western Burrowing Service’s National list of Birds of Owls and support research on these owls in Work is needed to increase our knowledge Conservation Concern 2001 to receive Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. of status and trends of raptor populations conservation action from federal and state that are known or suspected to be declining agencies. This attention will bring us more The Service joins other organizations such if we are to effectively conserve these information about these declining raptors, as Hawk Migration Association of North species. which will help in their recovery or prevent America and Hawkwatch International in them from declining further. supporting the valuable efforts of a large Outreach and education are important network of raptor migration monitoring components of raptor conservation. A new challenge for our Program is stations. These stations exist throughout Raptors are highly visible species, monitoring and management of species and provide systematic frequently seen by the public as subjects once on the road to extinction, such as the counts of migrating raptors as they pass. covered by the media, in zoos and other Peregrine Falcon and the symbol of our We provide funding for the North animal facilities, and in the wild. Not only Nation, the Bald Eagle. We are engaged in American Raptor Monitoring Strategy, a are raptors really interesting birds, but monitoring, planning, and management for comprehensive effort to develop monitoring they also play a crucial role in many recovered Peregrine Falcon populations. plans for all raptor species in North and, because they are at the We have written National Management America. top of many food chains, they face threats Guidelines for recovering Bald Eagles as a of greater magnitude than do other species blueprint for management of the species What Else Is Needed for Raptors? below them on food chains. We must strive following its delisting. Many raptor species face continued to create a greater awareness for raptor contaminant problems, particularly with conservation in the general public. rodenticides and other , persistent organic chemicals such as PCBs *** and metals such as mercury and lead. Raptors and other migratory birds are Golden Eagle Raptors also face many secondary some of nature’s most magnificent poisoning threats, whereby they ingest resources. Their conservation is a critical contaminated prey items. A systematic and challenging endeavor for the contaminant monitoring program is needed Migratory Bird Management Program and to keep track of these incidents, and a all who value nature. public education effort is needed to let people know about these problems and how they can help prevent such poisonings. For More Information: U.S. Fish and Wildife Service There is a great need for further Division of Migratory Bird Management examination of other mortality factors such 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 634 as electrocutions and disease as well as the Arlington, VA 22203 effects of human disturbance on raptor 703 358 1714 populations. As humans continue to alter http://birds.fws.gov the landscape, we need to understand how raptor species will be impacted. January 2002