Men’s Programs Predators in Flight In this program, we explore the majestic world of birds of prey, including eagles, falcons, vultures, ospreys, hawks, and more. Birds of prey are also called raptors. Together, we learn more about these fierce, predatory birds from their habits to their habitats, as well as their role in legends, folklore, history, and superstition. Preparation & How-To’s • This is a copy of the complete activity. • Print photos of birds of prey for participants to view or display them on a TV screen. • Print a large-print copy of this discussion activity for participants to follow along and take with them for further study. • Read the article aloud and encourage participants to ask questions. • Use Discussion Starters to encourage conversation about this topic. • Read the Birds of Prey Trivia Q & A and solicit answers from participants. • Check out the Additional Activity for more information about this topic. Predators in Flight Introduction Birds of prey, also known as raptors, include many species of avian predators that rule the skies. Found on every continent on Earth except Antarctica, these powerful birds possess enhanced senses and phenomenal speed. Raptor and human history have been intertwined for centuries, with some birds of prey considered evil or magical, while others are thought of as pests. In contrast, they have also been celebrated as sacred or served as human hunting partners. What Makes a Raptor Most birds of prey are members of the order Accipitriformes, which is made up of 250 species. The birds are divided into diurnal and nocturnal raptors. Diurnal raptors are from the family Accipitridae and are active during the day. This family of birds includes hawks, eagles, buzzards, and kites. Falcons, which are also day-time predators, have a slightly different DNA makeup that places them in a separate scientific classification, but for our purposes here, we will include them. Nocturnal birds of prey are owls, from the order Strigiformes, which boasts over 200 species of these solitary creatures. The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapio, which means “to seize, grab, or take by force.” However, not all hunting birds are classified as birds of prey. Non-raptor meat-eaters include storks, herons, gulls, insect-eating songbirds, and penguins. ©ActivityConnection.com – Predators in Flight – Page 1 of 6 Raptors are distinguished from other carnivorous birds by their sharp curved beaks and deadly curved talons (also called claws) that are used for catching and killing prey. These predators use their exceptionally strong feet and sharp talons to grab, pierce, and rip apart their prey. Birds of prey are also unique from other carnivorous birds due to their superior hearing, sight, hunting skills, and flying ability. These majestic birds fly at incredible speeds, often silently or close to it. They soar through the sky, efficiently making the most of air currents to fly for incredible distances. They can also expertly zip between trees, branches, and other obstacles to reach their prey, which they are able to spot (or hear) from impressive distances. Most raptors have an average sight range of around one mile, but this varies by species. For example, hawks can see a mouse from 10 stories up. Eagles can spy a rabbit two miles away. That’s about eight times better than human sight. Discussion Starters • What are your experiences with raptors? Have you seen them in nature or at zoos? Share your interactions with these birds. • What are your thoughts about birds of prey? What’s for Dinner? Birds of prey eat a huge range of creatures, from rodents and reptiles to fish and carrion (dead animals). Hawks and Falcons We can thank hawks and falcons for helping to cull insect, rodent, and small bird populations. Without these birds of prey controlling the numbers of these creatures, overpopulation would be an issue that would affect the community ecology. Hawks often live in wooded areas. Their long tails help them aptly maneuver for quick turns and give them the ability to evade branches or other obstacles found in forests. They hunt by making quick, unexpected dashes at their prey. Falcons are medium-sized raptors that have long, tapered wings. Falcons that hover while hunting are called kestrels. They kill with a “tooth” on the sides of their beaks. They have excellent vision and rapid diving speeds that reach over 200 miles per hour—making them the fastest creatures on Earth. The peregrine falcon is the swiftest, with vertical dives clocking in at over 240 miles per hour. Vultures Most raptors will eat carrion in addition to live prey. However, for vultures, which in the Americas are also called buzzards, carrion is their main source of food. These scavenging birds include California condors and Andean condors found in the Americas, the white-rumped vultures of India, and the bearded vulture of Europe and Africa. The bearded vulture is unique among vertebrate animals in that its diet consists almost entirely of bone. The turkey vulture has a hole running through its beak so that you can see right through it. This unusual nostril opening lets it breathe through the hole, enabling the predator to take in air while beak-deep in a carcass. Also unique to the vulture is its powerful sense of smell, which it uses to sniff out food from extensive distances. They are one of few birds that have any ability to smell. ©ActivityConnection.com – Predators in Flight – Page 2 of 6 Kites Kites, which are characterized by their long wings and tails, spend much of their time soaring in the sky. They eat a wide range of foods, including invertebrate prey, insects, and carrion. These birds live in varied habitats across the world, from forests and grasslands to cities. The black kite is thought to be the world’s most prevalent raptor and is renowned for its unique ability to “eat on the wing.” This amazing talent allows them to grab prey out of the air and gobble it up while in flight. Another unique characteristic of these birds is that they are social animals and gather and roost in large flocks, unlike most birds of prey, which tend to live primarily alone or in pairs. The Harris’s hawk, also a social raptor, lives in groups, uses cooperative nests, and hunts as a team. Ospreys Ospreys, which have a four- to six-foot wingspan, are experts at fishing. Not only do they scoop fish out of the water, they dive right in and use their powerful wings to emerge and fly out of the water. Ospreys have closable nostrils to prevent water from getting in their lungs while hunting for fish. Like many birds of prey, ospreys also mate for life. Built to Kill Birds of prey are beautiful, graceful creatures. They are also built to kill. Let’s explore some of the evolutionary advantages that make them exceptional predators by looking specifically at eagles and owls. Eagles These massive birds have long, broad wings and large feet. There are dozens of species of eagles, not all of which are closely related. These majestic birds can be found across the Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. Eagles have heavy, hooked beaks and strong, powerful legs and feet. These features help them rip flesh off their prey. Their very large, evenly balanced wings give them an enhanced flying ability, enabling them to fly at extraordinary speeds and quickly zero in on their next meals. Eagles are apex predators, which means they live at the top of the food chain. They have no natural predators. Other examples of apex or alpha predators include lions, crocodiles, and wolves. Eagles are fierce, even at birth. There are normally 1–3 eggs in a clutch. The largest eaglet often acts aggressively toward its siblings and sometimes kills them. The parents make no move to stop such attacks. Eagles can carry an exceptionally heavy weight while flying. For example, the bald eagle has been known to fly carrying a fawn. Eagles are also able to kill prey that outweighs them. When their dinner is too heavy to fly to their nests, called aeries, eagles will either eat the meal onsite or rip it apart and transport it in pieces. ©ActivityConnection.com – Predators in Flight – Page 3 of 6 Discussion Starters • Do you enjoy watching birds? Which species do you like best? • Have you ever gone birding? If so, share your experiences. • If you could be any bird of prey, which one would you choose? And why? Owls Among many other extraordinary features, an owl’s eyes give it an advantage on its prey. Their eyes are fixed in place, so they can’t move their eyes to see something. Instead, they move their heads. Luckily, an owl’s neck can rotate up to 270 degrees to help them see a greater range of their surroundings. Those immobile eyes aid in enhanced night vision, depth perception, and distance vision, which is estimated at approximately eight times the strength of human vision. The northern hawk owl is known to spy prey up to a half-mile away. Additionally, having two eyes on the front of the face allows for stereovision, or three-dimensional vision. Owl’s flat faces act similarly to satellites to enhance hearing as do their ears. The often-asymmetrical ears allow owls to better pinpoint the exact position a noise is coming from. Owls also have specialized feathers and wing shape to dampen the noise of flying, allowing them to stealthily surprise their prey. Their excellent hearing also aids in their deadly hunting ability. Being able to hear and zero in on even the faintest rustle or scurry of tiny feet beneath mounds of snow or underbrush gives them deadly accuracy.