Birds of Prey
Table of Contents
Introduction
Threats to Birds of Prey
Habitat Loss
Almost half of Earth's habitable land is used for farming. 77% of that land being used for livestock and their feed. By using land more efficiently, we can go back to using less of it, allowing damaged ecosystems to return to a wild state which can support birds of prey and their prey.
Loss of Prey
Habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, wildlife trafficking and poaching, light pollution, and other human-caused problems have had a massive impact on the many species that support the diets of birds of prey.
Snag Removal
Snags are dead trees that can are vital nesting places for insects, birds, and other species. Humans often take snags down for safety or aesthetic reasons, which is creating a crisis for species which are already threatened by dwindling numbers. When considering tree removal, consider if it is a genuine safety concern, or if the tree could be left alone for the wildlife.
Poison
Intentional Poisoning
"Illegal use of poison is considered one of the most important issues regarding illegal killing of birds due to the serious conservation impacts ... and is confirmed to be among the most important direct threats in Europe to the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti), Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), Red kite (Milvus milvus), and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Poison-baits have been identified, for example, as the primary limiting factor in the expansion of the reintroduced population of Red kites in northern Scotland... and of the UK Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) population (Whitfield et al. 2008). In addition, poison- baits suppose a serious impacts on carnivore mammals... by causing population decline and/or regional/national extinction of some species of bears, lynxes, wolves, mustelids or wild cats... Indiscriminate use of poison-baits also presents a risk to other wildlife, working animals (shepherd and hunting dogs), pets and human health, with potentially lethal consequences." - Raptor Protection: Selected Threats
Pesticide Use
Pesticides are used by farmers world wide. Some are now illegal to spray on crops intended to feed humans, but many of these banned chemicals can legally be sprayed on livestock crops. These chemicals then leach into the environment, and go up the food chain from plants and insects to frogs and lizards, to various bird species, and can bioaccumulate dangerously in apex predators including birds of prey.
Gardeners and homeowners should also avoid using pesticides in or around their homes as the same mechanisms can impact the entire local food web. Pesticides can also wash into waterways, creating a toxic soup as these chemicals wash out to sea.
Lead Poisoning
Lead bullets are still used in some places for hunting. When animals run off into the bush or forests with bullets inside them, the lead can migrate around the animal's body. When predators eat these animals later, this can cause a build up of lead in their bodies. Bald eagles have been found with their heads twisted at strange angles, and unable to fly away thanks to lead poisoning in the USA. Birds can be particularly sensitive to these types of poisonings.
How to Help Birds of Prey
Combat Habitat Loss
Farm land uses more space than any other human activity, so by focusing on filling our diets with the more environmentally friendly, efficient foods, we can slow down, or even help reverse habitat destruction and deforestation.
Choose Planet-Friendly Foods
Avoid Deforestation via Food & Other Product Choices
As our Deforestation page shows, most deforestation is done to grow food for humans and livestock, but carefully choosing paper products, furniture and combatting junk mail can also help save our remaining trees.
Gardening
Avoid Pesticides
Plant & Design for Wildlife
Support Wildlife Conservation
This can include contacting your local leaders, supporting conservation groups and programs, supporting public education, or even volunteering or working directly with conservation efforts.
Reliant Species
Hummingbirds
"A detailed and intriguing study conducted in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains - a hummingbird stronghold - revealed that hummingbirds that nested close to active Cooper's and Northern Goshawk nests enjoyed considerably better reproductive success than those nesting far from hawk nests. These accipiters specialize in preying on other birds; hummingbirds are simply too small and agile to attract their attention, but corvids (jays, magpies, and the like) are on the menu. So not surprisingly , the Mexican Jays that inhabit these mountains - and which happily seek and eat hummingbird eggs and fledglings - try to keep their distance from the hawks. ... The research team ... monitored 342 hummingbird nests over several years. Only 20 percent of the hummingbirds nests built in plots without active hawk nests achieved brood survival." - The Hummingbird Handbook
Lichens
Lichen Use By Wildlife In North America This lists species and the lichens they rely on as food and nesting material. Many of these species are important prey species for different bird of prey species including owls. This resource also lists species of birds of prey who use lichens as nesting materials themselves.
Tools & Apps
Africa
Namibia
Atlasing in Namibia: Bird Information System "Citizen science projects recording biodiversity and cultural heritage in Namibia"
Resources & Guides
How-To Guide
NestWatch: All About Birdhouses includes resources such as the interactive "Right Bird, Right House" tool, trouble shooting guides, and tips for installing cameras.
Owl Hawk Osprey Platform check out the bird images at the bottom of the page to see which species might use this nest type, and mouse over each to read their name, or click the image for more information.
Winter Roost Plans from the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PDF)
Organizations
International
Hawk Conservancy Trust "Our conservation and research work takes place in the UK and overseas."
Raptor Research Foundation "An international scientific society whose primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors."
Africa
Kenya
Kenya Bird of Prey Trust "is a Kenyan non-profit dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey."
South Africa
African Raptor Center "The conservation of indigenous birds of prey through practical research, scientific rehabilitation, specialized breeding & creative education."
Europe
Central European Society for Raptor Protection (MEGEG) "The focus of the Central European Society for Raptor Protection is on studies on the use of space and the mortality factors in birds of prey in order to be able to make concrete statements on the influence of, for example, infrastructure facilities (overhead lines, wind turbines, ...) as well as illegal persecution (poisoning, shooting, ...) based on scientifically sound results."
UK
Hawk Conservancy Trust "Our conservation and research work takes place in the UK and overseas."
South America
Colombia
Pro Aves "works to protect its 27 Nature Reserves, conserving more than 65,000 hectares of key ecosystems for Colombia’s biodiversity, including alpine tundra ecosystems such as the páramo and subpáramo, mountain forests, tropical rainforests, tropical dry forests, and mangrove swamps."
Rainforest Trust: Saving the Last Rainforest in Colombia's Magdalena Valley "The Magdalena Valley is larger than the state of Colorado yet has incredibly high endemism, providing vital habitat for many threatened species that live nowhere else on Earth." ... "After years of negotiations, Rainforest Trust and our local partner ProAves have secured the purchase rights to a strategic 1,178-acre property at $285 per acre. The new parcel is strategically located beside the most vulnerable flank of El Paujil Bird Reserve and would block road access for loggers."