AZGFD Discusses Living With Raptors

Falcons are known for their incredible speed and agility, and usually feed on smaller birds, which they dive at and capture in mid-air. Commonly observed falcons in Arizona include the peregrine falcon, prairie falcon and American kestrel. The merlin and crested caracara are also in the falcon family.

• Accipiters, such as Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, have short rounded wings and long tails and are common forest-dwellers. They are expert at chasing small birds through trees and catching them mid-air. The larger northern goshawk is an accipiter, too.

• Buteos, large broad-winged hawks, including the red-tailed hawk, common black-hawk, Harris's hawk and zone-tailed hawk, often catch rodents and other prey on the ground. Buteos are usually perch-and-wait raptors that you will commonly see sitting on tall structures like telephone poles, trees, signs or billboards.

• Most owls fly very quietly, have excellent eyesight, and hunt ground-dwelling or flying animals in low light conditions or at night. One exception in Arizona is the burrowing owl, which is often active during the day and lives in underground burrows that are usually created by burrowing mammals. Arizona's owls include the large great horned owl and barn owl, as well as tiny elf, pygmy and screech owls.

• Two types of eagles live in Arizona. Golden eagles are related to buteos, but are much larger with longer wings. They are found statewide and usually prey upon rabbits and ducks. Bald eagles are usually found near water and feed primarily on fish and waterfowl, which they hunt or scavenge.

• Raptors nest in various places, including stick nests (most buteos and eagles), ledges (some owls and falcons), and cavities like woodpecker holes (smaller owls and American kestrels) or burrows (burrowing owls).

• Raptors have extremely keen eyesight; the average raptor's vision is approximately ten times better than a human's.

Possible Conflicts With Humans And Pets

Birds of prey are common in urban areas, and they can be beautiful and enjoyable to watch, as well as helpful for controlling rodents, rabbits and birds. Raptors can occasionally cause problems for people when they pursue small pets or domestic animals, nest in an inconvenient location, leave droppings or meal remains behind, or defend their nests when people get too close. Urban areas can actually be dangerous for raptors as many are injured or killed by running into power lines, being electrocuted by power lines, hitting reflective windows, or being disturbed within their nest area.

What Attracts Them?

Raptors may inhabit an area to find food, water, shelter or the space they need to live.

• Food items, including rodents, birds, snakes, rabbits and insects, are attractive to raptors. Large birds of prey may also hunt small domestic animals, including dogs, cats and chickens, especially during raptors' winter migration period from September to April.

• Water sources, such as fountains, pools and birdbaths, may attract raptors because a raptor's prey (doves and pigeons) congregates around bodies of water.

• Shelter for raptors can include high perches that offer a view for hunting. These perches can be located in a tree, on a building or tower, on a telephone or electric pole or line, or on any other tall structure. Some raptors build large nests of sticks high in trees, saguaros or power distribution equipment. Cavity-nesting raptors may seek shelter in birdhouses or holes in trees or cacti. Barn and great-horned owls may seek out large buildings, such as hangars or barns, for shelter.

Laws And Policies

• It is illegal to harm, trap, kill or harass raptors, according to federal and state laws. However, certain Commission rules allow for the take of raptors for falconry with the proper permit.

• Raptors are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which makes it illegal to kill, trap, possess, trade, sell or harm them. Raptors are also protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Lacey Act, the Airborne Hunting Act, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

• Licensees must also obtain the proper permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Permit Office. The Arizona Game and Fish Department issues licenses to qualified individuals for falconry, wildlife rehabilitation, education, and humane holding.