The Eagle Soars Again

Another name for birds of prey is raptors. It is a word of Latin origin and it means “to seize” or “to plunder”. Where do they live? Anywhere they want to! That is ... uh ... Under normal or rather, natural circumstances.

There are so many habitats or places where birds of prey can be observed in all their powerful and splendid glory. They have a distinct advantage over other predators like lions or wolves or sharks. They can fly! So you can find them almost anywhere in the world. Although they are not known for hanging out in Antarctica. The largest concentration of raptors can be found in the steppes of Asia, the North American prairie lands, and the East African savannas, living where there is warm weather and open country. In South America, they make their homes in the extensive rain forests. Some of them have actually moved into urban areas and made nests on the skyscrapers in several cities. Why not? Easy hunting. Pigeons are all over the place. Only a few, such as the gyrfalcon, can brave the Arctic. The majority of them usually migrate to warmer climates during the cold winter months.

In addition to the fact that they are superbly skilled fliers, their whole bodies are designed for hunting and killing. Their feet have sharp talons that are lethal. The better to strike and pierce, my dear. Their toes? Also lethal. Four on each foot; three face forward and one backwards. Useful for gripping and crushing. Especially since they don't have hands. Their hooked beaks are used for ripping the flesh off the bones of carcasses. Finally, they have remarkable eyesight. They can spy a rabbit two miles away, with clear focus. Scientists refer to this ability to focus as “resolving power”. Vultures usually search for dead animals; however, many raptors hunt for live prey. As previously mentioned, they are mainly carnivorous and consume a wide range of foods from different sources in varying sizes: mice, snakes, rabbits, fish, small birds, dead elephants.

The description of them sounds incredibly frightening, but keep in mind: they don't kill for fun, they kill for food. When not hunting for a meal, life is centered around family. When they choose a mate, they are partners for life. They find somewhere to build a nest, raise a family, and their relationship can last for decades – thirty, forty, or even fifty years.

Innocent? Yes well, it seems that later on, environmental research indicated that the birds had been falsely accused. Meaning? Meaning that it turns out that they were not the ones responsible for destroying the lambs, etc., etc.,etc. So now we have enacted laws to protect them from us!