A unique group in the bird world are those that stand at the top of the food chain, the raptors. These birds are known as Birds of Prey, the controllers of populations.
The services that raptors provide are multifaceted. They help to cull the population of their prey. When predators are removed from the prey what usually follows is an overpopulation. Weak and diseased animals spread disease and ultimately damage the herd. Predators help to remove these animals and actually straighten the species.
Raptors are the one of the great garbage collectors. Vultures are usually thought of in this vein, but all birds of prey will usually accept a dead carcass when a live one can't be found. By removing the dead they keep breeders of disease clear from the general animal population.
Raptors are a valuable measuring stick to the health of an ecosystem. Where predators are not found the ecosystem is unstable. Without a controller of the population there is no natural balance to nature.
Finally raptors are beautiful. Their esoteric beauty is balanced by their efficiency. They represent nature at it's most selective in form and function. It's no wonder since man gazed and admired them they have used them as personal symbols; represent strength and suppleness, in one hand the sublime and in the other the proud.
Raptor Watching
How do you go watch raptors? Pretty much like birds. However raptor watching takes a little extra work. As predators raptors are animals that prefer to stay unobserved while they stalk their prey. To find them, you need to be either of two places; where their prey is, and where they live.
Road Trip!
My son are I are going on a raptor watching trip to northwest Arkansas, to look for falcons, hawks, ospreys, kites, owls, and yes, the occasional vulture. Eagles nest in northwest Arkansas but have long gone. They will be migrating back in the winter; if we get a chance we will be going back to spy some of these magnificent animals.
Why Arkansas? My son, Edward, is a raptor enthusiast. He is a biology major, is a junior in college and plans to make avian biology his life, more importantly, birds of prey. The National Peregrine Foundation in Idaho has a captive breeding program where they breed the birds and relocate them across the country. One such place is in New Mexico. If Ed gets the job he'll spend 10 weeks during the summer living in the hills watching and observing, taking care of the hatchings until they are old enough to fly away. We camped a little when he was younger but for this he wants to experience raptor watching in as close an environment as he will experience in New Mexico.
On July 31st, Edward and I (my name is David, btw) will be traveling to the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Dardanelle, Arkansas. We'll start there and then go to Bull Shoals in northern Arkansas. We'll spend three days tromping through the Arkansas brush seeking out raptors (but watching for other birds as well), then come home. This blog will (or try to be) updated every day. That plus pictures! If you have done your own birdwatching, contribute! We would love to hear of your experiences. Will be updating this site on my plans, etc. Until then, happy birdwatching! (or raptorwatching!)
1 comment:
Does watching hummingbirds, cardinals and jays (and the little brown ones) count as well? I'm not tromping through foothills or other rough terrain; just sitting on my little wicker divan outside. No where near the adventure you and Ed will have, but still fun!
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