Birds of Prey - Printable Version

Birds of Prey - Printable Version

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Birds of Prey - Pckts - 08-14-2014

Any info or images on Birds of Prey...

I'll go first with my National Bird,
Bald Eagle

Size & ShapeThe Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk. It has a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. In flight, a Bald Eagle holds its broad wings flat like a board.
Color PatternAdult Bald Eagles have white heads and tails with dark brown bodies and wings. Their legs and bills are bright yellow. Immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails; their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in varying amounts. Young birds attain adult plumage in about five years.
BehaviorYou'll find Bald Eagles soaring high in the sky, flapping low over treetops with slow wingbeats, or perched in trees or on the ground. Bald Eagles scavenge many meals by harassing other birds or by eating carrion or garbage. They eat mainly fish, but also hunt mammals, gulls, and waterfowl.
HabitatLook for Bald Eagles near lakes, reservoirs, rivers, marshes, and coasts. For a chance to see large Bald Eagle congregations, check out wildlife refuges or large bodies of water in winter over much of the continent, or fish processing plants and dumpsters year-round in coastal Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

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The bald eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 4 m (13 ft) deep, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, and 1 metric ton (1.1 short tons) in weight.[sup][2][/sup] Sexual maturity is attained at the age of four to five years.

The bald eagle has sometimes been considered the largest true raptor (accipitrid) in North America. The only larger species of raptor-like bird is the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), a New World vulture which today is not generally considered a taxonomic ally of true accipitrids.[sup][7][/sup] However, the golden eagle, averaging 4.18 kg (9.2 lb) and 63 cm (25 in) in wing chord length in its American race (A. c. canadensis), is merely 455 g (1.003 lb) lighter in mean body mass and exceeds the bald eagle in mean wing chord length by around 3 cm (1.2 in).[sup][5][/sup][sup][8][/sup] Additionally, the bald eagle's close cousins, the relatively longer-winged but shorter-tailed white-tailed eagle and the overall larger Steller's sea eagle (H. pelagicus), may, rarely, wander to coastal Alaska from Asia.[sup][5][/sup]The bald eagle has a body length of 70–102 cm (28–40 in). Typical wingspan is between 1.8 and 2.3 m (5.9 and 7.5 ft) and mass is normally between 3 and 6.3 kg (6.6 and 13.9 lb).[sup][5][/sup] Females are about 25% larger than males, averaging 5.6 kg (12 lb), and against the males' average weight of 4.1 kg (9.0 lb).[sup][2][/sup][sup][9][/sup][sup][10][/sup][sup][11][/sup] The size of the bird varies by location and generally corresponds with Bergmann's rule, since the species increases in size further away from the Equator and the tropics. The smallest specimens are those from Florida, where mature males may weigh as little as 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) and have a wingspan of 1.68 m (5.5 ft)[sup][citation needed][/sup]. Similarly small, eagles from South Carolina average 3.27 kg (7.2 lb) in mass and 1.88 m (6.2 ft) in wingspan.[sup][12][/sup] The largest eagles are from Alaska, where large females may weigh up to 7.5 kg (17 lb) and span 2.44 m (8.0 ft) across the wings.[sup][4][/sup][sup][13][/sup] A survey of adult weights in Alaska showed that females weighed on average 6.3 kg (14 lb) and males weighed 4.3 kg (9.5 lb).[sup][14][/sup] Among standard linear measurements, the wing chord is 51.5–69 cm (20.3–27.2 in), the tail is 23–37 cm (9.1–14.6 in) long, and the tarsus is 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in).[sup][5][/sup][sup][15][/sup] The culmen reportedly ranges from 3 to 7.5 cm (1.2 to 3.0 in), while the measurement from the gape to the tip of the bill is 7–9 cm (2.8–3.5 in).[sup][15][/sup][sup][16][/sup]The call consists of weak staccato, chirping whistles, kleek kik ik ik ik, somewhat similar in cadence to a gull's call. The calls of young birds tend to be more harsh and shrill than those of adults.[sup][5][/sup][sup][6][/sup]

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Bald Eagle vs Golden Eagle

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RE: Birds of Prey - sanjay - 08-14-2014

@Pckts , Great to see that you started first thread in this section. However I suggest not to completely copy paste from Wikipedia or any other popular and open source. Better rewrite some portion in your own language.
Copying and pasting exactly from any other popular source harms the ranking of website in google searches.

Just a suggestion.

RE: Birds of Prey - Pckts - 08-14-2014

Noted, I just used part of Wiki to show a spectrum. I used other sources for other then Wiki as well, I neglected to post the link since neither had scientific data attached.
My apoligies.

RE: Birds of Prey - Pckts - 08-14-2014

Stellar sea Eagle

Stellar sea Eagle vs Golden Eagle

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Scientific name: Haliaeetus pelagicus
Higher classification: Sea eagle
Wingspan: 213 cm on average
Length: 85 – 105 cm
Rank: Species
Tail length: 32 – 39 cm
Mass: 4.9 – 6 kg (Male), 7.6 kg on average (Female)
WikiFast FactsType:BirdDiet:CarnivoreSize:Wingspan, up to 8 ft (2.5 m)Weight:13 to 20 lbs (6 to 9 kg)Did you know?The Steller’s sea eagle is considered the most powerful and aggressive of its cousins, the bald eagle and the white-tailed sea eagle.Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

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These very large, powerful eagles are also striking in appearance. They are dark but dramatically colored with white tail, shoulders, rump, thighs and forehead.These eagles are believed to breed only in far eastern Russia, along the coasts and surrounding islands of the Sea of Okhotsk and Bering Sea. They are most common on the Kamchatka Peninsula.Each winter, many Steller's sea eagles migrate from their breeding grounds to Japan, and a few reach Korea or even farther afield. Other individuals do not migrate, but simply move to open water as winter approaches.Open water provides these eagles with their main food sources along coastlines and lakes. In their breeding grounds, Steller's sea eagles subsist largely on salmon, and they both hunt and scavenge for this resource. Annual salmon runs provide an enormous bounty and Steller's sea eagle nests are typically located near coasts and rivers where these fish appear en masse.These birds of prey hunt from a perch or from flight by diving and clutching prey in their talons. They also stand in shallow water or on the ice and grab passing fish when the opportunity arises. Like other eagles, Steller's also steal food from other birds.In Japan, Steller's sea eagles feast on cod. In addition to fish, they eat crabs, shellfish, squid, small animals, ducks, gulls, and carrion.Steller's sea eagles do not occur in large numbers, but their populations appear to be stable. Their feathers were once highly prized, but today these magnificent birds are protected throughout their range. They are especially revered in Japan, where they are known as O-washi.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/stellers-eagle/

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RE: Birds of Prey - Pckts - 08-14-2014

Cinereous Vulture
Justification
This species has a moderately small population which appears to be suffering an ongoing decline in its Asiatic strongholds, despite the fact that in parts of Europe numbers are now increasing. Consequently it qualifies as Near Threatened.Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: #http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.xls#.
Cramp, S.; Perrins, C. M. 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.Identification
98-107 cm. Huge, broad-winged vulture, short, often slightly wedge-shaped tail; all dark brown. Juveniles are blackish. One of the largest Old World vultures. Bare skin of head and neck bluish grey; head covered with blackish down. Massive beak. Sexes alike. Voice Little used and quite unspecialised. Calls include croaks, grunts, and hisses when feeding at carcasses; also querulous mewing, loud squalling or roaring during breeding season.

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Distribution and population
Aegypius monachus breeds in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyztan, Iran, Afghanistan, north India, northern Pakistan (A. Khan, A. Parveen and R. Yasmeen in litt. 2005), Mongolia and mainland China, with a small reintroduced population in France (Heredia 1996b; V. Galushin in litt. 1999; Heredia et al. 1997; WWF Greece 1999). It may occasionally breed in Portugal, F.Y.R.O. Macedonia and Albania, but it no longer breeds in Slovenia, Italy, Cyprus, Moldova and Romania. There are wintering areas in Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, north-west India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Lao People's Democratic Republic, North Korea and South Korea. Its global population is estimated to number 7,200-10,000 pairs, with 1,700-1,900 pairs in Europe (BirdLife International 2004; Anon. 2004) and 5,500-8,000 (Anon. 2004) pairs in Asia. In Europe, populations are increasing in Spain (minimum 1,500 pairs [Barov and Derhé 2011]), Portugal and France, and are stable in Greece and Macedonia (Barov and Derhé 2011). However, numbers are decreasing in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey and the Ukraine (BirdLife International 2004; Barov and Derhé 2011). Overall, the European population underwent a large increase between 1990 and 2000, possibly >30% overall (BirdLife International 2004; I. Burfield in litt. 2005) and increased from 1,330-1,874 in 1993-1996 to 1,995-2,852 in 2000-2010 (Barov and Derhé 2011). Much less information is available regarding the status and population trends of the species in Asia, where the bulk of the global population resides. There are probably over 1,000 pairs in the Asian part of the former Soviet Union and a further 1,760 pairs in China (Ye Xiao-Ti 1991). It appears that breeding populations are more or less stable in Mongolia (where the species is described as common [N. Batbayar in litt. 2005]) and Pakistan (A. Khan, A. Parveen and R. Yasmeen in litt. 2005) (where it is described as scarce), although fluctuations in distribution and breeding success occur, and populations within some nature reserves in Mongolia (where there are few domestic livestock) are declining (N. Batbayar in litt. 2005). In Kazakhstan, however, populations of all vulture species are in severe decline, owing to a precipitous decline in their main food resource, the Saiga antelope (Saiga tartarica) (W. Fremuth in litt. 2005). This trend may be mirrored in a number of other central Asian countries where populations of both domesticated livestock and wild ungulates have declined greatly in recent years (T. Katzner in litt. 2005). Very little is known about population trends on its wintering grounds, although wintering populations appear to be declining in Nepal (H. S. Baral in litt. 2005) and increasing in India (T. Katzner in litt. 2005) and South Korea (Lee et al. 2006).

Population justification
Its global population is estimated to number 7,200-10,000 pairs, roughly equating to 14,000-20,000 mature individuals. This consists of 1,700-1,900 pairs in Europe (BirdLife International 2004; Anon. 2004) and 5,500-8,000 pairs in Asia (Anon. 2004). The population in Korea has been estimated at c.50-10,000 wintering individuals (Brazil 2009). The estimate roughly equates to 21,000-30,000 individuals in total.

Trend justification
Although the European population is increasing, the much larger Asian population appears to be in decline. Overall, a slow to moderate and on-going decline is suspected.

Ecology
The species inhabits forested areas in hills and mountains at 300-1,400 m in Spain, but higher in Asia, where it also occupies scrub and arid and semi-arid alpine steppe and grasslands up to 4,500m (Thiollay 1994). It forages over many kinds of open terrain, including forest, bare mountains, steppe and open grasslands. Nests are built in trees or on rocks (the latter extremely rarely in Europe but more frequently in parts of Asia), often aggregated in very loose colonies or nuclei. Its diet consists mainly of carrion from medium-sized or large mammal carcasses, although snakes and insects have been recorded as food items. Live prey is rarely taken. In Mongolia, at least, the species is reliant on livestock numbers for successful nesting (Batbayar et al. 2006).

Threats
The two main threats to the species are direct mortality caused by humans (either accidentally or deliberately) and decreasing availability of food. The main cause of unnatural death is the use of poisoned baits for predator extermination (Anon. 2004b), although shooting and destruction of nests also occur (Anon. 2004b; N. Batbayar in litt. 2005). Shooting and poisoning are increasing in Mongolia (N. Batbayar in litt. 2005), and many birds are trapped or shot in China for their feathers. There are fears that veterinary application of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac, which has caused the near-extinction of several Gyps vultures in India, may have a negative impact on A. monachus (N. Batbayar in litt. 2005), particularly as increasing numbers of the species are wintering in northern India (T. Katzner in litt. 2005). A study in central Spain during 2003-2005 found high concentrations of antibiotics in blood samples from 57% of nestlings tested (Lemus et al. 2008). The same study found two antibiotics in the liver samples of all dead nestlings that were tested. It is hypothesised that antibiotic residues, particularly quinolones, cause liver and kidney damage, and deplete lymphoid organs and alter bacteria flora, facilitating pathogenic bacterial and fungal infections (Lemus et al. 2008). In Europe, decreased food availability was formerly caused by European Union legislation on carcass disposal (Anon. 2004b); however, recently passed regulations will allow the operation of feeding stations for scavengers (A. Brunner in litt. 2010). In eastern Europe and central Asia, particularly in the former Soviet Union, changes in agricultural practices and human migration from the countryside to the cities have greatly reduced numbers of domestic livestock. In Georgia and Armenia, declines may be linked to the loss of subsidies for sheep-herding in the post-Soviet era (M. McGrady in litt. 2007). Additionally, there have been steep declines in many populations of wild ungulates which provide a major food source for the species. The Saiga antelope (Saiga tartarica), for example, numbered over one million individuals ten years ago, and has now been reduced to a population of 30,000-40,000 owing to uncontrolled hunting and severe winters (W. Fremuth in litt. 2005). In South Korea, food limitation is a serious problem such that the species relies on supplementary food (Lee et al. 2006). Habitat loss is also thought to be important (Anon. 2004). The majority of brood losses occur during the incubation period and it is suspected this may be partially due to low and fluctuating temperatures (Batbayar et al. 2006) and so changes in air termperatures resulting from climate change may be a potential future threat to the species.

Conservation Actions Underway
The EU Birds Directive has contributed to the recovery and conservation of the species in Europe, particularly Spain, where the population has increased from an estimated 290 pairs in 1984 to a minimum of 1,845 pairs at present (De la Puente et al. 2007). Co-operation between Spanish government agencies and conservationists under the 'Antidote Programme' also appears to have been effective in mitigating the effects of poisoned baits. Both the Spanish and the Andalusian Governments have produced anti-poisoning strategies, but the former still remain to be financially supported while the latter need more decisive official endorsement. A reintroduction project in Grands Causses, Southern France has resulted in the establishment of a small breeding population (16 pairs were breeding in 2006 [Eliotout et al. 2007]) with good prospects. Supplementary feeding programmes have been initiated in Spain and France to provide a safe, poison-free food source, although there are concerns that the species may be not very prone to feed at conventional feeding stations. Captive breeding populations have also been established (Tewes et al.1998). In the Balkans, the species has only one stable colony in the Dadia forest reserve in northern Greece, where WWF has long been involved. Supplementary food is also provided in Bulgaria for breeding birds (Anon. 2007) and South Korea during the winter, which may be the factor attracting birds from Mongolia (Lee et al. 2006). In eastern Europe and central Asia, fewer conservation actions are known, although the species occurs within a number of protected areas in the region. The Balkan Vulture Action Plan aims to transfer expertise and technology relating to the conservation of the species from western to eastern parts of Europe (Anon. 2004b).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to determine the species's status and population trends on breeding grounds outside Europe and on wintering grounds (Anon. 2004b). Research threats, particularly the decline in abundance of prey species. Carry out reintroductions to link up the western and the eastern sub-areas of the present range, following the recommendations of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Black Vulture Conservation Foundation. Develop the captive breeding programme to support both this and future reintroduction and supplementation efforts. Restore wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus populations in the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands (Spain) as this may help to increase food availability, particularly during the breeding period. Promote cooperation and information exchange among people working on the species, both at a national and international level. Strengthen and enforce legislation regulating trade in pesticides that are used to poison meat baits. Increase the rate of prosecution and the severity of judicial sentences for illegal poisoning.
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3380NamesEnglish: Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Black Vulture, Monk Vulture
Scientific: Aegypius monachus
German: Mönchsgeier
Spanish: Buitre negro
French: Vautour moineTaxonomy and Subspecies Only species in the genus Aegypius. No subspecies [GRIN 2009]. Closely related to the Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus [Bauer et al. 2005].Size Length: 100-110 cm
Wingspan: 250-295 cm
Weight: Males 7,000-11,500 g, Females 7,500-12,500 gLargest raptor in Europe!
http://www.europeanraptors.org/raptors/cinereous_vulture.html

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Cinereous vulture next to steppe eagle

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RE: Birds of Prey - Pckts - 08-14-2014

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Justification
This species is classified as Vulnerable since only a small, declining population remains, owing primarily to poisoning and persecution, as well as ecosystem alterations.Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: #http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of _the_WP15.xls#.
Cramp, S.; Perrins, C. M. 1977-1994. Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The birds of the western Palearctic. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
del Hoyo, J.; Collar, N. J.; Christie, D. A.; Elliott, A.; Fishpool, L. D. C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International.Taxonomic note
Spelling of specific name follows Mundy et al. (1992).Synonym(s)
Torgos tracheliotus Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Torgos tracheliotus AERC TAC (2003), Torgos tracheliotus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Torgos tracheliotus Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Torgos tracheliotus BirdLife International (2000), Torgos tracheliotus BirdLife International (2004)Identification
78-115 cm. Very large, long- and square-winged vulture. In flight, very black-looking with white thighs and white bar running across leading edge of underwing (from body to "wrist"). Naked, pinkish-skinned head. Similar spp. Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus is half the size. Voice Various hisses and cackles given at nest and, in aggression, at food, but less vocal than Gyps vultures. Hints Larger wingspan than any other vulture in Africa. Over much of its range, it mainly inhabits semi-arid or desert areas with only scattered trees and short grass (Mundy et al. 1992). Frequently seen in most large protected areas in eastern and southern Africa, particularly in Namibia. It is generally a sociable species, congregating at carcasses.

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Distribution and population
Torgos tracheliotos breeds in Egypt, Senegal, Niger, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland, Saudi Arabia (an increasing population, in excess of 500 individuals [Newton and Shobrak 1993, M. Shobrak in litt. 2000]), United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen and possibly Libya (Massa 1999). The species also occurs in The Gambia, northern Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Central African Republic and southern Angola (Shimelis et al. 2005). It is no longer thought to breed in Côte d'Ivoire (G. Rondeau in litt. 2007). It has been extinct in Algeria and Tunisia since the 1930s, and now only small populations remain in southern Egypt, and Mauritania (Mundy et al. 1992). The last records from Morocco concerned two birds in 1972 (Shimelis et al. 2005). It is considered likely to be extinct in Western Sahara, as it has not been recorded there since 1955 (Shimelis et al. 2005). In Nigeria, there has been a major decline since the late 1970s and it may now have been extirpated (Brown 1986, Shimelis et al. 2005). It probably previously bred in Jordan (Evans and Al-Mashaqbah 1996), has largely disappeared where formerly common in Somaliland (Somalia) (A. Jama in litt. 2009), and is considered extinct in Israel, where three birds remained until 1994 (Shimelis et al. 2005). The species was not recorded during surveys in 2004 in northern Mali and Niger along the same transects that yielded 96 birds in 1971-1973 (Thiollay 2006). The combination of these results with comparable transect surveys from Burkina Faso indicate a decline in abundance of c.97% in rural areas and c.39% in national parks between 1969-1973 and 2003-2004 (Rondeau and Thiollay 2004), and declines of 50% were also recorded between 1978-1986 and 2003-2005 on transects in the Masai Mara, Kenya (Virani et al. 2011). It is suffering a slow decline in southern Africa (Boshoff et al. 1997), although the population in central Mozambique is probably stable (Parker 2005). There are possibly 1,000 pairs (almost 3,000 individuals) in southern Africa, at least the same in east and north-east Africa, and possibly only c.500 pairs in West Africa and the Sahara, giving a total rough estimate of the African population of at least 8,000 individuals (Mundy et al. 1992).

Population justification
The African population is at least 8,000 individuals, and there may be 500 in the Middle East. This gives a total population of at least 8,500 individuals, roughly equivalent to 5,700 mature individuals.

Trend justification
The total population is suspected to be in decline at a moderately rapid rate, based on anecdotal information on regional declines, and extirpation in some parts of its range.

Ecology
The species inhabits dry savannah, arid plains, deserts and open mountain slopes (Shimelis et al. 2005), up to 3,500 m (A. Shimelis in litt. 2007). In Ethiopia, it is also found at the edge of forests, having been recorded at Bonga forest and forest in Bale Mountains National Park in 2007, as well as the Afro-alpine habitats of the national park in 2005 (A. Shimelis in litt. 2007). It ranges widely when foraging (P. Hall in litt. 2000) and is mainly a scavenger, feeding predominantly on any large carcasses or their remains (Mundy 1982, Mundy et al. 1992). It is also known to hunt, probably taking a variety of small reptiles, fish, birds and mammals, and has been observed apparently group-hunting flamingo Phoenicopterus chicks (McCulloch 2006a, 2006b). It builds solitary nests (usually containing just one egg), often in Acacia (its distribution sometimes being limited by these trees' distribution [Boshoff et al. 1997]), but also in Balanites and Terminalia (Shimelis et al. 2005). It does not breed until at least six years old, then fledging c.0.4 young/pair/year (Mundy et al. 1992). Ringing studies in Namibia have revealed a very low return rate (Simmons and Bridgeford 1997). The species's minimum home range is thought to be 8 km2, and this can expand to 15 km2 in some habitats (Shimelis et al. 2005). In Mozambique, egg-laying occurs from late April until mid-August, with a peak in May and June (Parker 2005). A nest found in Oman contained a small chick in early March, and thought to have fledged in mid-June (Wernery 2009).

Threats
Widespread accidental poisoning, largely due to strychnine, used by many farmers for predator control, and more recently carbofuran, has contributed significantly to declines (Brown 1986, P. Hall in litt. 2000, Otieno et al. 2010, C. Kendall in litt. 2012). Several T. tracheliotos were found to have died after feeding on the carcass of a poisoned jackal in Namibia (Komen 2009). It is also often mistakenly persecuted as a livestock predator (Brown 1986): one major deliberate poisoning incident killed 86 individuals in Namibia (Simmons 1995). Other major threats to the species include nest predation by humans, reduced food availability and electrocution (Shimelis et al. 2005). Increasing use of agricultural pesticides may also be a problem for the species (Mundy et al. 1992), including those breeding at Tayma, Saudi Arabia (Shimelis et al. 2005). Nest disturbance, to which it is extremely sensitive (Steyn 1982), may be growing with an increase in forest settlements in Ethiopia (A. Shimelis in litt. 2007) and the increasing recreational use of off-road vehicles (Mundy et al. 1992). Breeding birds at Tayma could face disturbance from motorised vehicles in the desert (Shimelis et al. 2005). The population collapse in West Africa may be a result of higher nest disturbance, local extinctions of wild ungulates through habitat modification and over-hunting, intensified cattle farming in which sick or dying animals are rarely abandoned, and an increase in accidental poisoning (Thiollay 2006, Rondeau and Thiollay 2004), although the latter threat, in particular, requires further study (Rondeau and Thiollay 2004). National vaccination campaigns in West Africa have reduced illness in domestic livestock, and sick animals can now be sold off, rather than abandoned, due to the proliferation of markets and abattoirs (Rondeau and Thiollay 2004). The species may be hunted for medicine and cultural reasons in West Africa, and some ethnic groups in the sub-region hunt vultures for food, though the impact on this species is unknown (Rondeau and Thiollay 2004). In central Mozambique, the population has declined due to a scarcity of game and livestock following the armed conflict of the 1970s and 1980s, and the surviving population continues to be threatened by the over-exploitation of game by poachers (Parker 2005). There are incidences of deliberate poisoning to kill vultures by poachers, due to the belief that the arriving birds will give away the locations of poached animals (Hancock 2009). In Ethiopia, the principal threat to the species is habitat loss on the lowland plains (A. Shimelis in litt. 2007, 2012). Potential introduction of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, which is fatal to Gyps spp. when ingested at livestock carcasses may represent a potential future threat to the species.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. The species was put forward as a candidate for the CITES Review of Significant Trade in 2004 (CITES in litt. 2004). It breeds in a number of protected areas within its extensive range. Ecological research is ongoing, notably in Saudi Arabia (Newton and Shobrak 1993). Following a workshop, a five-year international action plan for the species was published in 2005, with the aims of stabilising or increasing its populations, improving knowledge of its distribution, population size and trends and minimising the impact of human activities at key sites (Shimelis et al. 2005). A comprehensive study of the species in Botswana was planned for 2007 (P. Hancock in litt. 2006), and 221 chicks have been marked with patagial tags between 2006 and 2009 (Bridgeford 2009). In 2007, a survey began to establish the extent of diclofenac use for veterinary purposes in Tanzania (BirdLife International 2007), and in 2008 an awareness-raising campaign at a conference of the World Organisation for Animal Health in Senegal led to a resolution being adopted unanimously by more than 160 delegates to "request Members to consider their national situation with the aim to seek measures to find solutions to the problems caused by the administration of diclofenac in livestock" (Woodford et al. 2008).Conservation Actions Proposed
Organise coordinated surveys and monitoring throughout its range to clarify population size and decline rates. Conduct further ecological research (Brown 1986, Boshoff et al. 1997, Shobrak in press). Initiate awareness campaigns aimed at farmers, local communities, developers and ecotourists to reduce mortality from persecution, accidental poisoning and disturbance (Harrison et al. 1997, Boshoff et al. 1997, Barnes 2000, Shimelis et al. 2005, Shobrak in press). Identify important nesting areas (Shimelis et al. 2005). Carry out research into the effects of nest disturbance (Shimelis et al. 2005). Improve awareness amongst utilities and NGOs of hazardous pylon designs and suitable measures to prevent collisions through training courses and literature such as posters and best practice manuals (Shimelis et al. 2005). Increase awareness amongst farmers of suitable reservoir and drinking trough modification methods (Shimelis et al. 2005). Enforce legislation concerned with incorrect use of poisons and pesticides (Shimelis et al. 2005). Carry out research into the impacts of different poisons across its range (Shimelis et al. 2005). Study the impact of the species on livestock numbers and share information with stakeholders (Shimelis et al. 2005). Enact legislation against the persecution of the species (Shimelis et al. 2005). Encourage vulture feeding sites and the abandonment of livestock carcasses from death by natural causes (Shimelis et al. 2005). Provide enforcement for existing nature reserves in West Africa and design of a new one in northern Mali (Thiollay 2006). In West Africa, determine the severity of accidental poisoning, hunting of the species for medicine and cultural reasons, hunting for food, and the threat from the development of powerlines (Rondeau and Thiollay 2004). Complete a vulture census for West Africa (Anderson 2005). Eliminate the veterinary use of diclofenac and other toxic drugs in Africa.

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3381The largest vulture in Africa (2), the lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) dominates other vultures when feeding and is even powerful enough to fend off a jackal (5). This impressive, broad-winged bird is armed with a large and powerful beak (6), capable of tearing off the hides, tendons and other coarse tissue of its scavenged prey, which are too tough for smaller scavengers (7). The lappet-faced vulture is easily recognised by its conspicuous size, bare, pink-skinned head and distinctive fleshy folds of skin, known as lappets, on the sides of its neck, for which it earns its common name (7) (8).There are two subspecies of lappet-faced vulture. The African subspecies, Torgos tracheliotus tracheliotus,has mostly dark brown to black feathers (8), which contrast starkly with the white thighs and white bar running across the leading edge of the underwing, clearly visible in flight (2). The north-east African subspecies, Torgos tracheliotus negevensis, is altogether browner, including partially brown thighs, with only some individuals showing white on the underwing, and those individuals formerly found in Israel also having pure white feathers on their backs (9).Also known asNubian vulture.SynonymsAegypius tracheliotus, Torgos tracheliotus.FrenchVautour oricou.SizeLength: 78 - 115 cm (2)Wingspan: c. 280 cm (3)Weight4,400 - 8,500 g (3)http://www.arkive.org/lappet-faced-vulture/torgos-tracheliotos/

*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Birds of Prey - Pantherinae - 09-01-2014

lappet faced vulture must be The most awsome bird out there! Aggressive and massive love it.

RE: Birds of Prey - Pckts - 09-09-2014

Red Tailed HawkRed-tailed Hawk Information PageSubspecies: Ranges and IdentificationThere are fourteen recognized subspecies, which vary in appearance and range.

Caribbean Red-tailed Hawk, Jamaican Red-tailed Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis jamaicensis), the nominate subspecies
- Range: Northern West Indies, including Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles. Not found on the Bahamas or Cuba.Does not overlap in range with any other subspecies.
Alaska Red-tailed Hawk, Alaskan Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis alascensis)
- Range: Southeastern coastal Alaska to the Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
Eastern Red-tailed Hawk, American Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis borealis)
- Range: Migratory - Breeds in Southeast Canada and Maine south through eastern Texas and east to northern Florida. Winters in southern Ontario east to southern Maine and south to the Gulf coast and Florida.
Canadian Red-tailed Hawk, Western Red-tailed Hawk, Californian Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis calurus)
- Disputed Subspecies:
  - Canadian Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis abieticolus)Saint Lucas Red-tail ( Buteo jamaicensis lucasanus)
- Range: Migratory Western North American population. Breeds from central interior Alaska, through western Canada south to Baja California. Winters from southwestern British Columbia southwest to Guatemala and northern Nicaragua.
  - Has three color morphs: light, dark and intermediate or rufous.Paler individuals of northern Mexico may lack the dark wing marking.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Florida Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis umbrinus)
- Range: Resident in peninsular Florida north to Tampa Bay and the Kissimmee Prairie.
- ID: Resembles the ssp. calurus - described above.
Central American Red-tailed Hawk, Costa Rican Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis costaricensis)
- Range: Resident from Nicaragua to Panama.
- ID: Upper plumage is dark brown with cinnamon flanks, wing linings and sides. Some are rufous-colored below. The chest is much less heavily streaked than in northern migrants (Buteo jamaicensis calurus).
Fuertes's Red-tailed Hawk or Fuertes' Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis fuertesi)
- Range: Migratory. Breeds from northern Chihuahua to southern Texas. Winters in Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Louisiana.
- ID: Darker on the back and upperwing coverts. Abdomen is unstreaked or only lightly streaked. The tail is pale.
Tres Marias Red-tailed Hawk

( Buteo jamaicensis fumosus)
- Range: Islas Marías, Mexico - Does not overlap in range with any other subspecies
- *This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild (banding record 28 years 10 months)
Size: 46-56 inch wingspan; weight: 3-3.5 pounds; height 19-25 inches
Eggs Laid: 2 to 3 eggs
Flight Speed: 20-40 mph
Status: CommonWhat are tips for identifying a Red-tailed Hawk?
The most distinctive characteristic is the reddish-brown tail of the adults which is very evident in flight. Backs are dark brown with some pale highlights while underparts are whitish with dark streaking sometimes forming a dark belly band. Sexes have the same plumage but females are larger. Red-tailed Hawks are in a group of hawks called “buteos” or soaring hawks and have broad wings and fan-shaped tails.What is the habitat of the Red-tailed Hawk?
These hawks range throughout the United States and have one of the largest ranges of any hawk in North America. Ideal habitat consists of woods bordered by open land. Tall trees for nesting and hunting perches are essential. Do they migrate? Some do, particularly in the northern part of their range, but many remain in their home range throughout the year. How do they hunt and what is their prey?
When hunting wary prey like rabbits or squirrels, Red-tailed Hawks may hunt from a high tree perch or by soaring at a moderate height above the ground, swooping down to catch the prey with their talons at the opportune moment. For smaller prey like mice, insects and snakes they may hunt from low posts or by low-level flights. A wide variety of prey are taken including woodchucks, weasels, birds, snakes and frogs but the major prey species are small rodents particularly meadow voles.What special adaptations do Red-tailed Hawks have?
Like all hawks, they have excellent vision and see in color. Strong, sharp talons enable them to catch their prey while their hooked beaks are designed for ripping and tearing pieces of meat.How do Red-tailed Hawks raise their young?
Both the male and female construct a nest of twigs and sticks in a tall tree. Females incubate the eggs for about 30 days, all the while being fed by the male. Chicks fly within 45 days of hatching and stay with the adults for another two months. Red-tailed Hawks may reuse the nest in subsequent years or other raptors such as the Great Horned Owl may move in.Fun Facts!

Red-tailed Hawks have a loud, descending call, sounding like “keeeer.”
Nests can be 2.5 to 3 feet in diameter.
This is the hawk you are most likely to see soaring above a field or perched in a tree beside the road.

Eagle vs Hawk

*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Birds of Prey - Pckts - 09-10-2014

Eagle keeping vultures at bay from his kill

Condor Takes Kill from Golden Eagle

Condors Bathing while the Golden eats

RE: Birds of Prey - peter - 09-11-2014

ARTICLE ON THE AFRICAN CROWNED EAGLE BY M. THOMSETT

This article, the second of two, is the most interesting I read on the African crowned eagle. Thomsett no doubt is one of the most informed on this raptor. Lengthy, but an in-depth view into an unknown world:

http://www.africanraptors.org/simon-thomsett-on-the-african-crowned-eagle-part-2/

RE: Birds of Prey - peter - 09-11-2014

THE MONKEY EATING EAGLE OF THE ORINOCO

When I was in Surinam and French Guyana, I saw a harpy eagle in a remote place. Photographs were made, but this was in 1980 when you could still ruin them. And that's what happened.

Forest eagles, like the harpy eagle and the African crowned eagle, are perhaps the most formidable raptors. The African crowned eagle, although smaller than the harpy eagle, is the only eagle known to have preyed on children. Thomsett (see the previous post) wrote this eagle could be a very real threat to humans if it would be a bit larger. I don't doubt his assessment, as he witnessed a number of spectacular kills in Africa. The harpy eagle has a clean sheet in this respect, but the ones involved in this documentary know these eagles do not hesitate to attack humans when necessary.

A young eagle needs a lot of time to learn what has to be learned. It isn't easy to find your way in dense tropical forest and the monkeys they hunt are capable of a good defence. Many inexperienced eagles perish when they overplay their hand and some get killed by forest cats or reptiles.

This documentary is almost an hour, but fascinating all the way. Not spectacular, but one of the best I saw:

RE: Birds of Prey - sanjay - 09-12-2014

Eagle eyed birds of prey help scrounging vultures find their dinner

Date: 9-sep-2014, Source: Trinity College Dublin

Details:
According to zoologist, endangered vultures find their food by the help of other birds of prey like eagle, hawk etc. It use social cues from birds of prey to locate food before swooping down in large groups to steal the freshest of 'ready meals.'

Because the location and availability of carcasses is very unpredictable, vultures rely on each other to find food. This new research has now revealed that they also use cues from scavenging Tawny and Steppe Eagles, whose keen eyesight and sharp beaks means they are better equipped to spot carrion from the skies and eat it when they land. This finding adds an extra consideration to the mix with regard to how we must design interventions to conserve vultures.

"We filmed interactions between eagles and vultures feeding at animal carcasses and our videos confirmed that eagles use their keen eyesight to find carcasses first, while the vultures simply 'scrounge' this information by following them to the carcasses," said Adam Kane, PhD Researcher, who is co-author of the paper that has just been published in the international journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The vultures do not merely follow the eagles to the dinner table, however; they make use of their superior 'food preparation' skills as well. Eagles are able to tear open carcass hides with their strong beaks, but the vultures can't, so they typically wait for the eagles to do the dirty work before bullying them off and tucking in to their dinner.

"That's not to say the eagles are the losers here. By arriving earlier, they get their finder's bonus and can continue on with some hunting once displaced; a strategy vultures can't rely on," added Mr Kane.

Crucially, these new insights into the social interactions of vultures and eagles highlight the vital importance of integrated management strategies for conserving endangered vulture species.

Vultures play a key role in many ecosystems as recyclers of dead and decaying biomass. They also provide important services in reducing the risk of exposure to dangerous infectious diseases such as anthrax, and in the absence of vultures, feral and wild dogs that carry rabies can increase in number and pose a threat to humans.

Vulture populations have suffered worryingly dramatic declines in recent years and there is an urgent need for effective management strategies to conserve these important birds with a truly unique lifestyle. No species exist in isolation and the results of this paper highlight the vital importance of taking whole-ecosystem approaches for conserving vulture populations.

RE: Birds of Prey - peter - 09-15-2014

PREDATOR AND PREY - WILD SPAIN

Although it attracts millions of tourists (especially in summer), Spain still has a lot of wild country. If we use´woodland´ in its widest definition, more than 50% of Spain is covered with forest. The forests are extending every year and many animals are protected. The result is Spain also has healthy numbers of medium-sized and large predators (wolves and brown bears).

Good documentaries are few and far between. Compared to ´El Hombre y la Terra´(introduced and directed by Félix Rodriguez de la Fuente), most are very poor. The only ones that compare to a degree are those broadcasted by the BBC.

This documentary (shot in the seventies of the last century), in my opinion, is second to none. In almost an hour, most of the predators of Spain are shown. It must have taken a lot of time to capture the events shown. One in particular (a golden eagle surprising a chamois) stands out, but it isn´t the only one.

Highly recommended - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szunMLalM9M

RE: Birds of Prey - brotherbear - 12-02-2014

Over on the old AVA, I have watched two videos of eagles and grizzlies. On one video, a bald eagle was chasing a grizzly, perhaps from a fishing spot. On the second video, a golden eagle was chasing off a grizzly; not sure why. Birds of prey are incredible.

RE: Birds of Prey - peter - 12-20-2014

FEMALE HARPY EAGLE