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HUMAN
BEHAVIOR AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Raptor
mortality is affected by a number of natural and human-caused factors.
Natural factors include such things as climate, weather, accidents, natural
catastrophes (e.g. lightning, volcano), predators, parasites, disease,
and old age.
While human-caused
factors often include increased population growth and industry, habitat
destruction, environmental contamination, electrocution, shooting, and
egg collection. Humans are often unaware of the long-term consequences
of air, water, and land pollution on both wildlife and themselves.
In the United States
(U. S.), millions of tons of atmospheric pollution are created and emitted,
and their impacts on animals (wild or domestic) far greater and immediate
than that which can be observed in humans. Below are a few examples:
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Birds
and mammals become soaked in oil. The oil reduces the thermal
properties of their feathers or fur and they eventually die from hypothermia
and starvation. Scavengers - vultures, eagles, hawks - that eat the
oil-soaked carcasses often die from petroleum ingestion.
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Pesticides
clearly affect birds of prey. Pesticide residues build up in raptors
that feed on animals or insects that have ingested or been contaminated
with pesticides. During stress or when food supplies are low, pesticides
stored in the tissues are released into the blood stream. When pesticide
levels reach a lethal dosage in the organs or nervous system, the
bird dies.
-
Waterfowl
often ingest spent lead pellets from shotguns. Raptors then die
from lead poisoning after eating the affected birds.
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Non-target
poisoning also creates problems for unsuspecting birds of prey,
particularly scavengers. Eagles or vultures occasionally eats a carcass
baited with poison intended to kill coyotes or other predators.
Other human-related
raptor mortality factors include:
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Collisions
with high tension cables, towers, vehicles (especially in populated
areas), and large windows . . .
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raptors
are attracted to power poles and powerlines because they provide
high perches for hunting, roosting, and occasional nesting
-
touching
two conductors or a conductor and ground wire at the same time
may electrocute raptors with large wingspans
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70
to 90 percent of all raptor mortalities on power lines occur
to young eagles
-
after
studies of this problem, power companies have taken steps to
prevent electrocutions by adding perches, modifying ground wires
on problem poles, and designing safer poles
- Shooting . .
. ยท although SHOOTING A RAPTOR IS ILLEGAL! it still occurs
-
before
laws were established to prohibit raptor shooting, many people
would gather along migration routes for target practice
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raptor
species, which occasionally prey on domestic animals (e.g. chickens,
pigeons, duck, quail, fish, and rarely sheep), are most vulnerable
to shooting, because man see these birds as competitors
-
only
instinct and opportunity are to blame for a raptor's choice of
food
LEGALITIES/REQUIREMENTS
FOR
POSSESSING A RAPTOR OR RAPTOR PARTS
All raptors are
protected by state and federal regulations. It is illegal to capture
or kill a raptor; it is also illegal to possess a raptor (living or
dead) without the proper permits from local state governments and the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Raptors pose no
threats to humans, although adult birds will defend their territory
(habitat, space, home, nest) and their young against any intruders,
human or otherwise.
Unfortunately, superstitions
and untruths about raptors will persist and subject them to unwarranted
suspicion and persecution.
In the U. S., wildlife
is considered the property of all citizens and is protected and managed
by the federal and state governments. Public sentiment, as well as law,
does not favor the unrestricted use of wildlife for commercial purposes.
Thus killing, collecting, or taking into captivity most forms of wildlife
is heavily regulated.
Federal Permits
All birds native to North America (thus excluding pigeons, European
starlings, and English sparrows) are protected by at least one, and
sometimes up to three, federal laws. Additionally, many states and municipalities
also regulate the keeping of wild birds.
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Migratory
Bird Treaty Act (1918) - One of the earliest laws passed to protect
wildlife in the U. S. This law was initially an international treaty
between the U. S., Canada, and Mexico, and has now been amended to
include Great Britain and Japan. It prohibits anyone from taking,
killing, or keeping any native bird, its parts, or its nest, without
a permit or license. ALL raptors native to the U. S. are covered by
this law.
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Bald
Eagle Act (1940) - Congress passed this act in response to the
slaughter of eagles during the first half of the twentieth century,
and because of the special status bald eagles hold as our national
symbol. This law protects both bald eagles and golden eagles, their
nests, and nest trees. It specifically prohibits anyone from killing
or disturbing either species.
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Endangered
Species Act (1973) - This act provides additional protection for
any animal listed as "threatened" or "endangered." The raptors currently
listed include the bald eagle, spotted owl, California condor, peregrine
falcon, and everglade kite.
At
the time of this writing, however, the list was undergoing revision.
Each
of these laws has a separate set of regulations and permits. Depending
on the species of bird you would like to possess, at least one and possibly
three, federal permits may be required. For example -
-
to keep a red-tailed hawk you need a Special Purpose Possession
Permit to keep the bird under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
-
to keep a peregrine falcon, both a Special Purpose Possession Permit
and an Endangered Species Permit are required
-
to keep a bald eagle, you will need a Special Purpose Possession
Permit and an Endangered Species Permit, as well as an
Eagle Exhibition Permit, issued under the Bald Eagle Act
All of these federal
permits are issued through the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service at their
regional offices. Each permit requires annual reports and renewal.
Federal and state
agencies and personnel are not exempt from obtaining permits. This includes
state and national parks, wildlife areas, research facilities, all of
which must obtain the same permits as everyone else.
Non-native Raptors
Non-living
Raptors . . .
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Special
Purpose Salvage This special permit allows for the possession
of non-living raptors or raptor parts. Dead specimens collected
under this permit may be mounted, prepared as study skins, or otherwise
used for educational purposes, including public display.
HOW
YOU CAN HELP
Many of the problems
facing birds of prey result from human activity. The solutions to these
problems are difficult, because we must have food to eat, lumber for building,
and industry for employment. But we must also have wildlife, and that
includes raptors.
The environment in
which we live would be very boring if only humans existed. Thus, seeking
a balance between man's progress and species conservation and preservation
is a challenge for all - which includes you.
Raptors are top predators
and are often the first to suffer when changes occur in the environment.
By protecting raptors, we provide an umbrella of protection for other
species living in the same ecosystem.
HELP
by learning as much as you can
about birds of prey and all wildlife:
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Read
books, newspaper articles, magazines
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Watch
television programs about nature
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Take the time to study the animals that live in your neighborhood
- Create wildlife
habitats in your backyard (e.g. birdhouse, birdbath)
- Encourage
parents to limit their use of pesticides
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Create
a nature or ecology club in your schoo
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Recycle and reduce your use of consumptive (use that may directly
kill or impact wildlife) goods
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Share what you know with your families and friends; quite often
people are simply not aware of the problems raptors face
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Write letters to important people, including government leaders
(congressional representatives, mayor, council persons, president,
etc.) in your town, state, and country expressing your concern and
interest in wildlife conservation and preservation; government leaders
are often influenced by the opinions you express on such issues and
your opinions often impact greatly their decisions as to whether actions
and/or laws get implemented or not
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Offer your support to organizations, federal (e.g. BLM) and
non_federal (e.g. Peregrine Fund), and facilities that protect raptors
nationally and internationally; humans are often unaware of such groups'
ability and effectiveness in making the world safer for wildlife
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