Answer Key Quiz #1

Answers

1. The birds of prey family includes eagles, osprey, kites, hawks, buzzards, harriers, vultures, falcons, caracaras and owls.

2. The term raptor narrows this designation down to birds that have talons, hooked beaks and seize their prey by force.

3. An owl can turn it's head 270* due to it's very unique system of blood vessels and bones. They actually have 14 neck bones as opposed to just 7 for humans.

4. The Andean Condor is considered the largest bird of prey with a wingspan of almost 10 feet and weighing up to 33 pounds

5. Females are usually larger than males. There is really no consensus in the scientific community as to why this is. A possible explanation could be that females need to be larger and heavier to defend their nest and offspring (though both parents will sit on a nest) while the male is more often out hunting for food. What do you think?

6. Harris Hawks, found in the Southwestern United States, are excellent hunters. They are social birds that hunt in packs of 2 - 6 birds. Some act as scouts, some as attackers. Their aerial acrobatics are awesome!

7. Under the Migratory Bird Act of 1918 and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, it is illegal to have a feather in your procession, unless a member of a federally recognized Native American tribes. You are subject to heavy fines and felony convictions.

8. A talon is it's claws. They are extremely sharp, strong and designed to carry prey.

9. It is believed to be 10 times stronger than a human's and exerting up to 400 psi. It has the ability to squeeze and then lock it's talons, like a vice grip.

10. Owls eat their prey whole and cough up the undigested bones, fur and feathers from their meals. If you find one on the ground, it's quite interesting to break it apart and see what you find!

11. A typical Bald Eagle nest is found high in a tall tree, often 50 foot or more above the ground and often more than 6 feet in diameter. and 3 feet deep. They are built by both parents and used year after year. Being fish eaters, they will usually chose a nest site close to a water source.

12. Fledging is done by all baby birds (and bats!) as they gain their flight feathers but are not yet flying. They are still dependent on their parents for food. Often fledglings look like they need human's help but please leave them alone. Nature knows what it's doing ... their parents have a very good eye on them!

13. Camouflage allows the owls to blend into their surrounding to protect them during the day.

14. A stoop is a hunting maneuver that starts with the falcon flying to a great height and diving down at it's prey, knocking it out of the air at speeds reaching over 200 mph.

15. There are differences!

16. Being daytime hunters, they do not need good night vision

17. Another difference from most other owls are that burrowing owls are diurnal hunters!

18. Robins are considered songbirds, not birds of prey.

19. The pesticide DDT was ultimately banned, the eagles were placed on the Endangered Species List ... their numbers increased and they were removed from the list in 2007!

20. Unless licensed as a Wildlife Rehabilitator or a Falconer, it absolutely illegal to own or process in any way, a bird of prey. "