Birds Of Prey

Like many species, the Burrowing Owl has suffered greatly through loss of habitat. Their genetic migration pattern leads them to densely populated areas such as LAX. The lack of safe areas for them to burrow and forage, ends in starvation and or becoming part of the food chain. Special considerations are made when burrowing owls are released back into the wild. They are placed in areas that will encourage them to stay, and discontinue their perilous flight patterns and hopefully settle down and breed.

Here you see Brenda releasing a Burrowing owl at a special site that is monitored by
US Fish and Wildlife. The owls were banded and have taken up residence. So far they are still there and we are hopeful that they will breed.

Each year, many juvenile birds of prey end up on the ground due to high winds and accidental falls. Some of these babies may need to be picked up according to specie and location. Juvenile birds of prey that are found on the ground while hiking in rural areas are often being cared for by their parents and should be left alone. A baby that is covered only in fuzzy down, should be placed back in the nest if it not injured and the nest can be reached safely. In housing developments, young birds of prey on the ground can become a problem as their parents (with very sharp talons) may be swooping down on people passing by. Get in contact with a rehabilitator asap to help you asses the situation.


	Safe Capture of orphaned and injured Birds of Prey

Things to keep in mind before handling a raptor.

some birds may try to bite you.
You may be startled by very loud shrieking or hissing when the bird is touched.
Their talons will most likely get embedded in whatever they grab onto.
Have multiple blankets/towels on hand so you dont have to remove one stuck in the talons.
Use a box close to the size of the bird incase of a broken wing. Large boxes give room for a break to become worse from flapping around.
Heavy welding gloves can be used to place a bird of prey in a box.
If you use a net, plan to put the whole thing in the box with the bird and let the rehabilitator remove it later.
Poke holes in a box for ventilation before the bird is inside.
Have the box close by so you dont have far to lift the bird.


	Capure Methods

There is always a risk when handling these types of birds so your first option should be to get the help of a rehabilitator. However, if you would like to try and capture the bird yourself, we have found these methods to be effective.

Some birds can be safely placed in a box by grasping their wings and body at the same time so that you are holding the whole torso with the wings pressed in place. The head and feet should always be pointing away from you to avoid injury. The bird can be covered in a towel first so that it cannot see a target to aim for. Once the bird is in a box, close it immediately as some birds are quick to escape. Consider the time of year and heat factors. A box can become hot inside very quickly.

For birds that flip on their backs such as baby barn owls, dropping a towel on their feet can keep their sharp talons occupied while you cover their bodies with a blanket and lift them into a box. .Make sure the fabric is smooth so you dont get a bird caught in a large blanket that does not fit inside..

A box can be placed over the bird and a large piece of card board can be slid very slowly underneath, giving the bird time to move onto the new cardboard floor. When your box is sitting completely over the card board, you can very slowly begin to turn the box over, giving the bird time to adjust to each new side. This may take 2 people to accomplish safely.

Barn owls can hunt as many as 10 rodents a night when feeding their young. Consider putting up barn owl boxes for rodent control instead of lethal poison that often kills more than its target.

Common injuries in birds of prey are gun shots and secondary poisoning. It is a federal offense to shoot one of these birds and anyone that has any information on such an offense should share the information with the rehabilitator or contact US Fish and Wildlife service or the Dept of Fish and Game so that the offender can be brought to justice. Gun shots to the wing area often leave the bird grounded for life as their flight is essential for hunting. Many of them starve to death or get attacked by other species including man.
When rodents are dying of a lethal dose of poison, they often surface and become an easy meal for the keen eyes of a bird of prey. Poison is an ineffective way to control rodents and the secondary effect to birds and mammal that consume them is tragic and unnecessary. If the rodent population is out of control, it is usually because there is an abundance of food and a place to nest.. Rodents will eat bird seed and kibble as well as fruit still on the trees. They will live in wood piles and out buildings and use untrimmed trees as highways from yard to yard.If these things are limited in your neighborhood , the rodents will nest elsewhere. Talk to your neighbors about supporting bird of prey habitat instead of using poison. Everyone will benefit including the dogs and cats that may also eat a poisoned rodent.


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