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One of my most favorite
groups of birds are Raptors. For many years I was involved in
tagging birds for the Department of the Interior, and for about
three years I specialized in researching the raptor group. Raptors
are Hawks and Owls. The bird at the left is the "Endangered"
Peregrine Falcon (Continental subspecies).
Photo: USFWS Digital
Image Library
The photo below shows ye
Webmaster about to release a Peregrine Falcon (Tundra Subspecies)
in central Florida in 1986. Bird Banding allows researchers to
individually identify birds. For example, we once found a dead
Peregrine under a power pole, must have been electrocuted. It turned
out that it had been banded in Greenland. These species fly long
distances to migrate, often well into South America.
Photo:
Pete Polisse |
| Some
facts on Hawks and Owls...
American Kestrels, the
smallest raptors in North America, lay 4-6-egg clutches, and usually
raise 2-4 nestlings each year.
New World vultures like Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures
probably are more closely related to storks than to other raptors.
The California Condor is the rarest raptor in North America.
Bald Eagles build nests as large as 10 feet across and up to 30
feet from top to bottom.
Falcons dont build nests, but rather use nests abandoned by other
species, or they make scrapes for their eggs on flat surfaces such
as cliff ledges.
Coopers Hawks frequently crash into bushes and run along the
ground while chasing small birds.
Peregrine Falcons were once called Great Footed Hawks because of
their large feet, toes, and talons.
It takes five years for a Bald Eagle to develop its completely
white head and tail feathers. Younger eagles have brownish head and
tail feathers.
Bald Eagles only live in North America. Golden Eagles live in
Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, as well as in North America.
Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons, occur on every continent except
Antarctica.
The eyeballs of Red-tailed Hawks are almost as large as those of
humans.
Although most raptors hunt by sight, Northern Harriers also hunt
by sound, and Turkey Vultures also hunt by smell.
American Kestrels have eyespots on the back of their head to help
them frighten larger hawks trying to catch them from behind.
Female raptors are larger than male raptors. In some species,
females are twice as large as their mates.
Northern Harriers build their nests on the ground, and not on
cliffs or in trees or bushes.
Source: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary web |
These are bird bands
on a small warbler. But it gives the viewer some idea about numbered
bands (silver) and colored bands (one green and two red) on a bird's
leg. Color banding allows researchers to track birds with
binoculars, for example, in their breeding territory.
What has all this to
do with Saint Francis of Assisi? Well, he is the patron of Animals
and ecology. Franciscans have an obligation to be kind to everyone
including the animals.
More Pictures!
Fred
Schaeffer, SFO
2/17/2005
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