Birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and owls are in grave danger because of dangers in their environment. These majestic birds deserve our best conservation efforts. They are native North American species that have suffered due to development, chemical use, and sadly alternative energy.
Lead poisoning, rodenticides, glue traps, and even windmills kill large numbers of birds every year. The good news is there are ways we can help and save these birds from dying.
Bald eagle feeding chicks
1. Lead Bullets
Lead poisoning has become another deadly issue for eagles. Lead ammunition used for hunting is often left in a killed carcass when hunters field dress the animals or remove the inner body organs and leave them on the ground.
Lead poisoning kills around 6 million birds of prey each year. The lead affects their mobility and they slowly starve to death. Wildlife rehabilitators try to save birds by using chelating compounds to bind the lead and allow it to pass.
Nonlead ammunition is available for hunters and studies have shown that non-lead ammunition reduces the number of birds that are exposed and affected by lead toxicity.
Lead ammunition used for hunting can be a direct threat to birds of prey. When hunters shoot game with lead bullets, fragments of the bullets can remain lodged in the carcass.
Lead poisoning is the number one cause of eagle deaths. A national study done in 2022 found 33% of eagles had acute lead poisoning. According to the Bird Conservancy 16 million birds of all species die from lead poisoning each year.
Bald eagles hunt fish that may have eaten lead tackle. Raptors that consume these prey items inadvertently ingest lead, leading to detrimental health effects.
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can poison the birds, causing impaired cognitive function, weakened immune systems, and even death.
If you hunt you need to switch to copper ammunition. Copper does not shatter and release harmful fragments. If you don't hunt get the word out and encourage non-lead ammunition because it's a step in the right direction.
Ironically in the US we've banned lead paint, lead gas, and lead pipes but not lead ammunition.
What can you do to help birds of prey - check out my video
2. Rodent Poison
Birds of prey are hunters. And if their prey has consumed a poisonous or toxic substance well so will they. You may be trying to kill those mice but so is that owl who hunts rodents.
Birds of prey, particularly owls and hawks, play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations. To protect crops and buildings, individuals often use rodent poisons, such as anticoagulant rodenticides, to eradicate these pests.
However, when birds consume poisoned rodents, they inadvertently ingest the toxins as well. This can lead to severe internal bleeding, organ damage, and ultimately, the death of these magnificent creatures.
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Poison is increasingly easy to buy in stores and has been widely accepted as a solution to controlling rodents. However, studies that monitor barn owl carcasses have shown a sharp increase in deaths due to rat poisons.
One study showed that over 70 percent of Northern spotted owls and 40 percent of barred owls in California are contaminated with rodenticides. New York studies have shown an increasing amount of the pesticides brodifacoum and difethialone in barn owls.
Rat or mouse poisons are Anticoagulants and work by thinning the rat's blood and they die slowly over several days. Their movements slow down and they become easy prey for a predator such as an owl. Rat poison affects many species and even your family cat.
Barn owl with fresh caught rodent
3. Glue Traps
While intended to capture smaller pests, glue traps present a grave danger to birds of prey. When hunting for prey on the ground, raptors can become ensnared in these adhesive traps.
Once trapped, birds may struggle intensely, leading to severe injuries, damage to feathers, and even death. Additionally, other animals attracted to the struggling bird may also become trapped, causing a potential disruption in the local ecosystem.
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4. Windmills
So the last thing I want to talk about is windmills. This is a sore subject for me. As you may know, I lived off-grid using solar energy for over 25 years. And I'm very pro alternative energy.
Windmills are often placed in hilly areas to take advantage of wind gusts. This can be perilous to both golden and bald eagles.
Windmills are often placed in hilly areas to take advantage of wind gusts. This can be perilous to birds of prey because they soar using the same wind gusts that are sought to turn the turbines. In addition, they are placed in grassy areas that are natural homes for rodents and rabbits.
Both bald and golden eagles have a blind spot near the tops of their heads that hinders the birds' ability to see a wind turbine ahead of them if they are looking downward.
Sadly the government allows a “certain number of eagle deaths by windmills”. I'll leave an article on this below if you are interested.
Though wind energy is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, wind turbines pose a unique threat to birds of prey. Nesting and migratory routes often intersect with the areas where wind energy farms are established.
In some cases, the birds' natural instincts fail to distinguish the turbines as obstacles, resulting in collisions. These collisions can cause severe injuries or fatalities, impacting the population dynamics and aerial biodiversity of various species of raptors.
In the case of wind energy, it is crucial to consider the location of wind farms and employ strategies to minimize bird collisions. Research and development of innovative technologies, such as avian radar, deterrence systems, and improved siting practices, can greatly contribute to reducing the impact of wind turbines on birds of prey.
The University of Minnesota is working on a study to test the auditory range of eagles and hawks so that warning sounds can be used to alert them.
By raising awareness about these issues and working collectively to find sustainable solutions, we can ensure the continued survival and well-being of these magnificent birds. It is our responsibility to protect and conserve the natural world we share with birds of prey, fostering a harmonious coexistence for generations to come.
Ways to HELP Birds of Prey
Nesting Platforms and Boxes
Many birds of prey suffer from deforestation and habitat destruction. Providing a place for them to nest helps them raise families.
Some birds such as bald eagles like a platform to build a nest on. Birding Wire has directions on how to make and install one.
Others like screech owls, saw-whet owls, and kestrels do well with a nesting box like this one.
Barn owls require a large box like this one.
2. Leave old trees standing that provide natural nest cavities.
3. Don’t use rat poison. Attract owls!