Websailor's Wacky Wildlife World
Created | Updated Jul 8, 2009
A quirky look at wildlife. To be taken with a pinch of
salt, but with more than a grain of truth!
Birds of Prey in Peril
I wonder how many people have actually seen birds of prey, or raptors as they are known? Many will have seen them captive at shows or exhibitions and will have been fascinated by the power of beak and talons, or the mesmerising eyes. Seeing them in their natural habitat is something altogether different.
Raptors include buzzards, eagles, falcons and hawks. Owls and vultures are also included, though the latter are not indigenous in the UK, and are mainly scavengers. Seeing their powerful feet, claws and curved beaks it is no wonder the name stems from the Latin rapere — robber, ravisher or plunderer, and they certainly live up to their name. It is this reputation which precedes them, bringing them many enemies, particularly among the human population.
I have been fortunate enough to encounter sparrowhawks up close and pretty personal on several occasions, but never with a camera to hand. They are stunning to behold, and are an indication of a healthy population of small birds in the locality. They don't survive if there is not sufficient natural food, and their predatory habits are not enough to reduce prey numbers— unlike humans, they only take what they need to survive. I occasionally see a kestrel hovering before plunging to catch the tiniest of prey, too. I know also, that my city is now host to peregrine falcons as are several other cities, so I was horrified to hear from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds that 2009 has been the worst year, probably since the 1960s, for the shooting, trapping and poisoning of birds of prey in the United Kingdom.
Peregrine falcons are destroyed by pigeon fanciers among others, yet it is hardly surprising that these birds do not distinguish between expensive captive bred pigeons and the many wild pigeons that frequent their airspace. It seems to me that if you release your prized birds into the wild, they must take their chances with the natural hazards, and I suspect as captive bred birds they may have lost some of their instinctive sense of danger.
In suitable flying conditions a peregrine can dive at speeds of 200mph, and can cruise at 60mph. Is it any wonder that during the second world war they were seen as a threat to national security and many were shot? Their crime? Taking homing pigeons that were used to carry messages to our agents in Europe.
The killing of birds of prey was made illegal 50 years ago. Poisoned baiting of birds was banned by law in 1911, almost 100 years ago, yet it still happens!
Peregrine falcons, red kites, golden eagles, hen harriers, white-tailed eagles and goshawks are all subjected to shooting, poisoning and trapping, often in isolated areas. Gamekeepers are often implicated as they blame them for the loss of their expensive captive bred 'game'.
This is happening at a time when conservation efforts have brought about an increase in breeding pairs of many of the species, and some have been brought back from the brink of extinction.
Red kites are a particular success story. Only ten pairs were left in Wales at the beginning of World War II, every single one being traced back to the same breeding female. Yet the reintroduction of birds from Europe, and a breeding programme, has increased numbers and brought red kites back to many of their original habitats in the last 20 years.
White tailed eagles became extinct in the UK, the last one being killed in 1918, but now they are flying again in Scotland, having been brought in from Norway. Hen harriers too are thriving in their old habitats, but all would be more abundant if it were not for the persecution of the birds, destruction of nests and theft of eggs or chicks. Golden eagles, too, are suffering from human activity.
In the past organochlorine pesticides were a large part of the problem, and ignorance too, but that is not the case now. Year on year reports of illegal killings are rising, putting in peril all the good work done over the last 50 years.
Quite apart from the cruelty and risks to other wildlife, people, pets and commercial livestock, brought about by poisoning and trapping in particular, we are losing these beautiful birds. Does it matter? What are they for? These are questions often asked of conservationists.
Like many flagship species of animals, they tell us that the habitat in which they live is healthy, with sufficient food, from the grubs and caterpillars at the bottom of the food chain right up to their species. Small creatures reproduce quickly in large numbers and are easily replaced, whether birds, fish, or mammals. Larger species have a tougher time finding food, and a mate, and produce fewer offspring less frequently. They are therefore more vulnerable to losses.
Nature is all about balance, and these birds help to keep species in balance, neither too many nor too few, and all have a place in the scheme of things. Far more species of bird and animal suffer from loss of habitat than will ever suffer from predation by birds of prey.
Peregrines particularly are being targeted: one was found dead in the Forest of Dean, a female and chick appear to have been baited with poisoned pigeon in Sunderland, and in Walsall (not too far from me) a racing pigeon was found with a pill capsule taped to its leg. It contained the banned pesticide Aldicarb. Three pigeons were found tied to the ground in Cumbria close to a peregrine site. A peregrine landed in a back garden in Lichfield, Staffordshire (again not too far from me). It had its leg caught in a spring trap. Three more traps were found nearby. Five chicks were stolen from a nest site near Mansfield. The list goes on!
It has taken thirty years for peregrines to recover from persecution and the 'Silent Spring' documented so tellingly by Rachel Carson, yet it seems we have learnt nothing.
A nation of animal lovers? In spite of everything I believe we are, and it is time that those of us who do value our wildlife stood up to be counted. A start could be made by pressing the Government to add the peregrine to the existing list of five key species, giving it the same protection of wildlife crime enforcement.
Some birds of prey, though not British, have hit the headlines over the years. One is Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk from the Big Apple who decided to make his nest on the balcony of a tall prestigious building in New York in the early 1990s. The story of the removal of the nest caused consternation worldwide and a campaign to have his 'home' restored to him grew. His life story was documented by a wildlife photographer, and the people of New York took this fearsome looking bird to their hearts. There are some breathtaking photos on the web: just enter Pale Male and take a look.
Another American hawk, this time a harris hawk, patrols the skies over Wimbledon to deter the pigeons that dive-bomb the tennis players. For nine years a company has supplied a harris hawk, which to date has not killed a pigeon, though the pigeons recognise the hawk as a predator. They do not normally eat other birds but prey mostly on rodents. The pigeons have become wise to this over the years and the harris hawk is losing its mastery of the Wimbledon airspace.
A gyrfalcon, a bird of Northern Arctic climes, is now in training to take over the All England Club patch, so the pigeons had better watch out! Though I do wonder how it will adapt to temperatures such as we have experienced during Wimbledon this year.
Now it seems that vultures might be out and about in the UK! Sightings were reported in 2006 in London, Norfolk, Bodmin Moor in Cornwall and Snowdonia in North Wales. It has been suggested that it might be a rare Indian white-backed vulture, an escapee from a zoo. In its natural habitat it is highly endangered, partly from consuming domestic carrion injected with diclofenac. It has been suggested that sightings could also be griffin vultures from Spain. In their natural habitat they both have a very important job to do cleaning up carrion.
It is clear that birds of prey have an important part to play in our ecosystem and we meddle with them at our peril. The principal worry at the moment is the illegal killing of our own indigenous birds of prey, particularly the peregrine falcon, just as they had begun to make a spectacular recovery.
If what you have read has touched you then please do something about it by adding your name to the growing list of people who say 'Enough is enough, the killing must stop'.
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