![]() ![]() We see them almost daily here on Vancouver Island and they can be seen on most parts of the coast. Not only is it beautiful, but it is also one of the fastest falcons of all the falcons that live or visit our coast. The American Kestrel is Pacific Northwest’s smallest falcon, it is also, one of the most beautiful falcons. Their diets may change from location and species but they all eat meat. An Osprey has spiny scales on its feet that help them grip fish more securely.īirds of prey have very keen eyesight with forward-looking eyes, this allows them to home in on prey from a great distance. This allows them to hold fish with two talons on each side for a secure grip. Osprey being fish eaters, have one hinged toe that can be held in a forward or backward position. These claws are quite powerful and can literally crush their prey to death. They are perfectly designed to capture, hold, and carry prey. These hunters, these birds of prey have very strong claws that end with sharp talons. Turkey Vulture, Vancouver Island, BC, photo by Bud Logan Falcons will sever the spinal cord of their victims with their sharp beaks. All raptor’s beaks are similar in design, curved at the tip with sharp cutting edges to rip and tear apart their prey. They all play a role and have their place in the ecosystem. Our island has many types of raptures that call it home, they are the eagles and falcons, the owls and ospreys, the hawks and vultures. Therefore, these birds are the kings of the air. The birds of prey or raptors come with sharp hooked beaks, sharp talons, and amazing eyesight that allows them to spot and home in on prey from great distances.īirds of prey are carnivorous, they are easily identified by their hooked beaks and sharp talons to capture and tear apart their prey. Birds are a big part of this with many types, in all sizes. Our world has many varieties of birds and animals that live in balance with one another in the chain of life. There is no motive or malicious reason in their actions other than survival. But like all the wild creatures on our Island, they are only doing what they need to in order to survive. Man has sometimes thought of these birds as cruel and even hunted them almost to extinction for this reason. In the last 30 years, the destruction of their habitat by logging, mining, and oil/gas extraction along with human encroachment has reduced their numbers dramatically worldwide and this is happening right here on our island. These two groups of birds are the most threatened birds in the world. There are 421 species of birds of prey in the world and 133 of them are owls. This group consists mostly of owls, which include the barred owl, barn owl, short-eared owl, great gray owl, great horned owl, western screech owl, and the northern pygmy owl. Then there are the night hunters, those that hunt in the dark. ![]() The term bird of prey is applied to two groups of birds, first is the vultures, eagles, hawks, and falcons, these are the day hunters. They are the ones with extraordinary eyesight and incredible hearing. They are the predators that hunt with their powerful beaks, strong feet, and razor-sharp talons. Birds of prey are the lords of the air realm, they are the forest hunters, the warriors, the raptors. ![]()
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