Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica

Birds of Prey

Jul 14 2003 (IPS) - With their powerful hooked beaks they tear the meat from the kill, which they capture thanks to incredibly keen eyesight. These attributes apply to vultures, eagles and hawks, as well as other species known as birds of prey, or raptors.

Through the 1960s, human activities took a tragic toll. The birds' nests were destroyed, the hatchlings were killed, adult birds hunted down — an apparent attempt to exterminate them.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, “Raptors have existed for 75 million years and today there are over 450 species including eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, buzzards, ospreys, harriers, kites and owls. They live in most habitats in virtually all areas of the world.”

The website of the World Center for Birds of Prey tells the story of the “triumphant return” to Panama of “Ancon”, a harpy eagle that the Central American country loaned to the U.S.-based Peregrine Fund.

For 10 years, Ancon — alongside his mate “Olafa” — was the focus of a team of scientists who developed techniques for raising endangered birds in captivity.

Experts consider the harpy eagle an indicator species, because the fate of the bird reflects the health of the ecosystem in which it lives. Because it is a predator, it is at the top of the food chain. The bird's disappearance means that it does not have the food sources or habitat necessary to survive.