Birds of prey declining, leaving empty nests behind

Raptors in Orange County and other parts of Southern California are declining in numbers, having difficulty hatching chicks and leaving long-inhabited nest sites abandoned, probably because of environmental pressures, the Orange County Register reports:

[Experts] say raptors in Orange and San Diego counties, and perhaps across Southern California, appear to be suffering a variety of harmful environmental changes that are happening all at once: reductions in available prey, drought, West Nile virus and continuing loss of habitat because of expanding human presence and large, destructive wildfires.

The Register talked to several raptor experts at bird sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers who said there has been a decline in adult birds of prey and occupied nests in recent years. The hardest hit species include red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, kestrels, barn owls (shown above) and white-tailed kites, they said.

The experts also noted that more of the raptors they take in these days, rather than having visible injuries, are are simply weak or starving, signs of general "debilitation" that point to a serious scarcity of prey and habitat.

-- Tony Barboza

Photo: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Daphni]

If you put up a perch to help raptors catch their prey by dive bombing from a lower level, you may have fewer rodents. You can also locate nest boxes in populated areas, over a place where they can drop their disgusting packages of uneaten bones, etc. up to 6 boxes per square mile. San Diego has lots of rodents that could use a little control. Search for Dept. of Agriculture owl nest boxes or perches for raptors for information on how to make one and you can also purchase them.

[Brien Comerford]

The decline of birds of prey is very detrimental to ecosystems, biodiversity and the grand scheme of things in the realm of nature.

[Marcos El Malo]

I'm in NE Los Angeles, near the foothills. We have a variety of wildlife in our area, including Red Tail Hawks and Cooper's Hawks. I haven't seen or heard an owl in many years, unfortunately.

[Justin Rudd!]

there was a nest of white barn owls in the drooping palm frawns of a tall palm tree in Belmont Shore (intersection of Livingston Dr. and Broadway) about a month ago and we watched them when they'd screath after dark and peek out of their nest. The two yound owls would sit side-by-side waiting as their parents would fly in and out of a back door of the nest - apparently with food. As of two weeks ago, the owls are gone. They started replacing the grass/sod in the yard underneath the palm tree. I wonder if that is what displaced the owls.

[IonaTrailer]

Owls migrate. That may be why they left the area after raising their chicks.

We had a Great Horned Owl hanging around Sunken City in San Pedro. Along the coast there are lots of areas for birds of prey.

In my opinion, I have been seeing MORE raptors than I've seen in the past. The harbor area has peregrine falcons, there are tons of red-tails and other species of large raptor and lots of kestrels. I've seen Golden eagles on the mainland and bald eagles that have been re-introduced to Catalina.

But, hey - what do I know.

[Erin Koski]

If you are seeing *more* raptors that often means that they are being forced into closer proximity to humans. Usually they do not need to come so close to us to find food, but shrinking habitat, drought, weather and many other factors force them to seek alternatives to how they used to live. I just hope we do not lose them.

[Irma]

Hello, I have a question, really. Outside of my parents' spring valley home, there lives a family of owls. They scream an eerie screeching noise that sounds like a woman screaming. The owl itself is hardly seen, but my mom found an owl feather that was from the underside of the wing. It was white with black stripes on it, and I can't figure out what species of owl it comes from.

Could someone please help me?

Irma