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Contaminants Threats to Birds of Prey Contaminants Birds of prey are excellent indicators of environmental health. Their problems are an early warning system that there may be effects on people, too. In 1962, Rachel Carson wrote her seminal book, “Silent …

Climate Change Threats to Birds of Prey Climate Change How will birds of prey cope with climate change? The Gyrfalcon and its main prey, the ptarmigan, are well-suited to life in the harsh conditions of the Arctic. Like the polar bear, however, the …

History Kelsey Tatton It all started with the Peregrine... The Peregrine Fund was founded in 1970 to restore the Peregrine Falcon, which was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1999. That success encouraged the organization to expand its …

Merlin Merlin Falco columbarius Population status: Least Concern Body length: 9.4-13 inches (24-33 cm) Wingspan: 20-29 inches (50–73 cm) Weight: 5-8 ounces (165g - 230g) Amy Bracy Did you know? In the sport of falconry during the Middle Ages, Merlins were …

Mauritius Kestrel Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus Population status: Vulnerable Body length: 7-10 in (17.7-25.5 cm) Wingspan: 1-1/2 ft (30.5-45.7 cm) Weight: 6-8 oz (170-227 g) Willard Heck Did you know? For a time in the 1970s, the Mauritius Kestrel …

Galapagos Hawk Galapagos Hawk Buteo galapagoensis Population status: Vulnerable Body length: 21-1/2 inches Wingspan: 4 feet Weight: 1-1/2 to 2 pounds Todd Katzner Did you know? The Galapagos Hawk uses the same nest over and over, adding twigs and other …

Verreaux's Eagle-owl Verreaux's Eagle-owl Bubo lacteus Population status: Least Concern Body length: 66 cm (26 in) Wingspan: 140-164 cm (55-65 in) Weight: 56-110 oz (3.5-6.8 lbs) Jim Shane Did you know? The Verreaux's Eagle-owl is also known as the Giant …

Boreal Owl Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus Population status: Least Concern Body length: 8-11in (22–27cm) Wingspan: 20-24in (50–62cm) Weight: 3-7oz (85-198g) Ed MacKerrow Did you know? The Boreal Owl doesn't have a very long life, living only to be 7 or 8 …

Knowledge Gap Threats to Raptors Knowledge Gap There are more than 500 species of birds of prey on our planet. We estimate that more than half of all raptor species are in decline, and 18% are threatened with extinction. The IUCN Red List uses …

Invasive Species Threats to Raptors Invasive Species   Invasive species are organisms that cause ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native. One example of an invasive species is the Cheat Grass found throughout the United …