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Gymnogyps californianus- California Condor
I'm Endangered
Range map for California Condor is not available
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- The largest flying bird in North America, the California Condor has a massive 108" wingspan.
- The California Condor soars over large distances and seeks its prey by sight. Rarely flapping its wings, this largest of vultures, glides in search of carrion, predominantly large mammal carcasses.
- Pairs form for life, and raise one chick in a cliff ledge nest every other year from when they are about seven years old. Both parents incubate and feed the chick, which by fledging age has a wingspan of 8ft, but remains dependent on it's parents for food for another six months.
- The California Condor is one of the most endangered birds in the world. The birds were in steady decline from the 1930s to 1980s, a result of lead poisoning, shooting and accidental poisoning. Habit loss was addressed by the creation of Sisquoc Sanctuary in Santa Barbara Co., CA, in 1937 and the Sespe Sanctuary in Ventura Co., CA, in 1947, but this did not stop the species dive towards extinction. In 1987 the nine remaining wild California Condors were taken into captivity to participate in a controversial captive breeding program. Reintroduction into the wild began in 1992. In 2002 the first reintroduced pair raised a chick in the wild.
- In May 2008 an agreement to protect 90% of the 270,000 acre Tejon Ranch from development safeguarded important habitat for the California Condor.
- In November 2010, the pesticide DDT was implicated in nesting failure in California Condors. Read the New York Times report about this new threat to the recovery of this species.
- To learn how you can help this species visit the Audubon Watchlist profile.
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- Subfamily Pandioninae- Osprey
Pandion haliaetus- Osprey
I'm a Species of Concern
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- The Osprey is the only North American raptor which feeds exclusively on fish. This large (22-25 inch) brown and white bird has a distinctive brown eye line and a speckled breast.
- Found in a variety of wetland habitats, the breeding range of the Osprey extends across the northern North American continent, south as far as the Redwood coasts of southern California. Only the most southern individuals are resident, most migrating long distances to the Gulf Coast and Central and South America for the winter. There is also a resident population of Ospreys in southern Florida.
- Ospreys are fairly common in coastal areas and at marshes, lakes, ponds and other wetlands. The birds can be seen hovering over water in search of food. Once the bird locates a shoal, it dives from 30-100ft and plunges into the water to catch a fish. Once back in the air, the Osprey maneuvers the fish in its feet so that it is head forward, reducing aerodynamic drag.
- The diet of the Osprey consists of 99% live fish. The species is also known to eat rodents, small birds, and crustaceans.
- Ospreys are generally solitary outside the breeding season. The species is long lived and young Ospreys do not begin to breed until they are 3-5 years old. When migratory populations return to the breeding grounds the male performs an aerial courtship display, with slow flights over the nest site while giving a screaming call. The females arrive after the males and the pairs form or renew their bond at the nest site.
- The large nest is located on a tree, cliff, utility pole or nesting platform, where provided. Sticks are added to the nest throughout the breeding season and the nest is reused over many seasons.
- The female lays 2-4 white/ pink eggs with brownish markings. Both birds incubate, however the female performs most of the incubation and always at night. During this time the male provides all of the females' food.
- Osprey chicks are semi-precocial, they are down covered, but weak. The female broods them for 2-3 weeks. The male brings fish to the nest which the female feeds to the chicks.
- The chicks fledge at about 52 days of age. The chicks remain near the nest for 8-10 weeks and the parents continue supplemental feeding while the chicks learn to hunt for themselves.
- Ospreys were highly vulnerable to contamination from the pesticide DDT during 1950s-70s, which caused egg shell thinning and subsequent breeding failure. Populations declined, but have recovered with the banning of DDT use and the provision of artificial nesting sites. Ospreys have been reintroduced to their former range with habitat management and protection. Fishing lines, habitat loss and disturbance are current threats to Ospreys and hunting and pesticide poisoning on the wintering grounds in Central and South America continues.
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- Subfamily Accipitrinae- Kites, Eagles, Hawks
Haliaeetus leucocephalus- Bald Eagle
I Recovered
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- The Bald Eagle is a large scavenging bird of prey, which feeds predominantly on fish. The characteristic white head, large size and extensive soaring and gliding flight, make this spectacular bird a visible and well known species.
- Second in wing-span size only to the California Condor, the Bald Eagle is 31-37 inches tall with the smallest individuals found in the more southern parts of the species range, and the largest in Alaska and northern Canada.
- The range of the Bald Eagle has varied dramatically historically. Distribution before human settlement is thought to have been similar to the present day distribution, although numbers were probably much greater. Bald Eagles inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats, coastal areas, lakes, rivers and streams across Canada, Alaska and all of the United States except Rhode Island and Vermont. Most Bald Eagles winter in the contiguous United States, and coastal regions of Canada and Alaska. Migration and seasonal movements vary greatly, with immatures wandering widely, and large numbers congregating at food sources such as salmon runs in rivers in Alaska.
- The Bald Eagle is an opportunistic forager, hunting on the wing or from a high perch. Fish is the main component of the species diet, but the birds also eat small mammals, other birds, reptiles, and crustaceans. Bald Eagles will scavenge when possible, dead or dying fish, particularly Salmon, making up a large part of the diet and also other carrion, especially in winter. Fights over food are common as Bald Eagles feed in close proximity at locations where food is abundant.
- The courtship display the Bald Eagle involves spectacular acrobatic flights and vocalizations. Most notable is the "Cartwheel Flight" in which the pair lock talons and tumble over and over through the sky. The birds pair for life, and together construct a large nest of sticks in a tall tree, which they may maintain and use over many years.
- Two bluish/ white eggs are laid and both birds incubate for 34-36 days. The chicks are semi-altricial, and fledge after 70-98 days. Both parents feed the chicks, although the male brings most of the food during the first two weeks while the female broods the chicks. The chicks spend much time exercising their wings before fledging. They continue to remain close to the parents for a further six weeks after they fledge, during which time the parents continue to provide them with food.
- Bald Eagles are a highly social species, forming large communal roosts, particularly outside the breeding season. Non-breeders and immatures may be communal year round. Immatures have brown/ white mottled plumage and wander widely during he first four years of life. White head plumage is not attained until they reach maturity at four years of age. This is a long lived species, and the birds may first breed in their fifth year, often later in areas of dense population.
- The Bald Eagle is a conservation success story. Persecuted by settlers and farmers for its supposed threat to livestock animals and fish stocks, over 128,000 bounties were paid out for shooting of Bald Eagles during the early 20th century. Widespread reproductive failure resulted from ingestion of food contaminated with the pesticide DDT during the 1940s-60s. The birds laid eggs with thin shells which crushed during incubation. By 1982 less that 1500 pairs remained in the United States, outside Alaska.
- Bald Eagles are also vulnerable to oil spills due to use of aquatic environments, and fishing lines, lead fishing weights and other wetland contaminants. Additionally, Bald Eagles are killed in collision with power lines and other manmade objects.
- Protected since 1940 under the Bald Eagle Protection Act and later listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, many measures have been taken to recover this charismatic species. The banning of DDT, provision of nesting sites, captive breeding and reintroduction programs, habitat restoration and protection from nest disturbance have been very successful.
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Buteo jamaicensis- Red-tailed Hawk
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- The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most widespread hawks in North America. Found in both open habitats and dense tropical forests, the piercing call and reddish tail of this bird are well known. Several color morphs exist within the species and may be found within a single population. Twelve subspecies are currently recognized.
- The breeding range of Red-tailed Hawks extends from Alaska across southern Canada and the northern United States. Wintering birds can be found from southern Canada, to Mexico, Central and South America. Open habitats such as deserts, shrublands, grasslands, agricultural fields and suburban areas are used by Red-tailed Hawks. Any semi-open habitat with sufficient sites for nesting and perching is used.
- Red-tailed Hawks hunt from a perch for small and medium sized rodents, mammals, birds and reptiles.
- Spectacular courtship displays consist of both birds soaring in circles; the male then performs a series of swoops and dives before the birds clasp talons or beaks and plunge to the ground. The birds pair for life, remaining together year round.
- The nest is usually located in a mature tree. Where none are available, utility transmission lines, cliff faces or other suitable structures may be used. Both birds build the nest of twigs, and they may reuse it in later years. The female lays 2-3 white/ blue eggs which sometimes have brownish markings. The female does most of the incubation, for a period of 30-35 days. The chicks are semi-altricial and cared for by both parents until fledging after about 45 days. The parents continue to feed the chicks for a further six weeks, after which the immature birds may gather together in a staging area before dispersing.
- Red-tailed Hawks have benefitted from the clearing of land for agriculture and settlement, which provided the open habitats the birds prefer. Historically, the species was hunted by farmers and settlers. Now, the greatest threats are from collisions with cars, utility lines and buildings. However the species is apparently secure across its range.
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- Subfamily Micrasturinae- Forest-Falcons
- There are no flock memhers in this subfamily.
- Subfamily Caracarinae- Caracaras
- There are no flock members in this subfamily.
- Subfamily Falconinae- True Falcons, Laughing Falcons
Falco sparverius- American Kestrel
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- This colorful little falcon (length 10.5") is found across the United States in a variety of open habitats including meadows, grasslands, deserts, parklands, agricultural fields and suburban areas.
- The American Kestrel watches for prey from tall perches and also while hovering. It hunts large insects, small reptiles, mammals, amphibians and birds.
- The American Kestrel is a cavity nester, that uses trees, buildings and nest boxes. The female lays 3-5 pink/ white eggs, which the pair incubates for about 30 days. Often the same nest is used to raise a second brood.
- Populations increased greatly during historical deforestation of North America.
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Falco rusticolus- Gyrfalcon
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The Gyrfalcon is the largest of all falcons at 20 to 25 inches tall; a spectacular white raptor of the arctic tundra.
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Female Gyrfalcons are significantly larger than males.
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Gyrfalcons are partial migrants. Adult males usually remain on their territories year round. Unmated and immature birds may wonder south in winter.
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The main food of the Gyrfalcon is ptarmigan. Gyrfalcons also hunt other birds including geese, ducks, gulls and songbirds, and mammals such as arctic hares. Breeding success is closely related to abundance of ptarmigan and birds may wander in response to prey availability. When hunting, the birds may perch on a rock and launch on prey or fly low over the ground in pursuit.
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During nesting, female Gyrfalcons cache food close to the nest to be fed to the nestlings later.
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Gyrfalcon pairs usually remain together on their territory year round. The nest is located on a rocky outcropping, and is often an old Common Raven or Golden Eagle nest. The clutch consists of about 4 eggs, which the pair incubates for about 35 days. Both parents feed the chicks which fledge after about 52 days. The immature birds continue to associate with their parents for a further 4-6 weeks after which they are independent and may roost together in small numbers.
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Gyrfalcons are uncommon, but due to the remoteness of their habitat they are less threatened by human activity than other raptors. Nesting territories and prey abundance are the most significant limiting factors for numbers of Gyrfalcons.
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Global warming of the Gyrfalcon's arctic habitat may be a serious threat to the future survival of this species. |
Falco peregrinus- Peregrine Falcon
I'm A Species of Concern
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The Peregrine Falcon is one of the most widely distributed of all animals. Occupying a wide variety of habitats from tundra to deserts to city skylines, the species is highly adaptable to the modern world. However the Peregrine is also a bird species most severely impacted by human activities particularly pesticide poisoning which formerly resulted in massive declines in Peregrine numbers. The high profile recovery efforts to save this magnificent bird make this one of the most well known and best loved of all bird species.
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Peregrine Falcons inhabit open habitats, mountains with cliff faces for nesting, and more recently city centers with tall skyscrapers, in Alaska, northern Canada, the mid western and north eastern United States. Some populations are resident on their breeding territories year round; others are long distance migrants and winter in Central America.
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The main prey of the Peregrine Falcon is doves and pigeons. Other small birds and mammals are also hunted. Peregrines hunt on the wing, sweeping down rapidly to capture their prey.
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Resident Peregrine pairs remain together on their territory year round. Migratory birds pair on arrival at the breeding territory in the spring. The nest is located on a cliff ledge, ledge on a tall building or the birds may use an old stick nest such as that of a Common Raven or Bald Eagle, and the same nest site is used over many years. The nest is lined with grasses by the female.
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The clutch of 3 or 4 white/ pink eggs are incubated by both parents for about 30 days. The chicks are semi-altricial, covered in white down, but brooded most of the time for the first 10 days after hatching. Both parents feed the young birds which fledge at about 40 days of age. After fledging, the young birds follow their parents when they hunt and the parents begin to drop the prey in mid air for the fledglings to catch. This training of the young may continue through the first year of life.
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Groups of immature birds roost and migrate together, while adult migrants are usually solitary outside of the breeding season. Young birds may not return to the breeding grounds to establish territories until their second, third or fourth year.
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Historically the Peregrine Falcon was a victim of trapping, shooting and egg collecting. Large numbers were shot on migration. Legal protection from the 1930s reduced these threats. Peregrine Falcon numbers crashed during 1940s to 1970s due to accumulation of the pesticide DDT which caused the birds to lay thin shelled eggs which were crushed when the birds commenced incubation. The Peregrine Falcon was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1970 and efforts to recover the species began. With the banning of DDT, captive breeding programs by The Peregrine Fund and others, and provision of artificial nesting sites, the species is now recovering well. |
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