SECRETARY BIRD: Might

Unlike other Birds of Prey, Secretary Birds kicks her prey unconscious with her stout feet and stubby toes. Instead of swopping down and grabbing her prey, She treks in the African veldt looking for food. Spying a Lizard or small Mammal, Secretary Bird stamps her feet to flush Them out. After knocking her prey out, She eats the unfortunate Animals.

Famous for killing Snakes, Secretary Bird runs a zigzag pattern after Adder. As She runs, She flaps her wings, confusing the Snake. When He strikes at Her, Secretary Bird easily moves out of the way using her long legs. With her scaly feet, She strikes Snake hard behind his head, thereby fracturing his spine. Since She is so good at killing Snakes, farmers in some areas have “domesticated” Secretary Bird to keep their farms clear of these Reptiles.

Because of her distinctive differences from the other Birds of Prey, scientists have placed Secretary Bird in her own group – the Sagittariidae. Unlike the other Raptors, She has long stork-like legs, and a long stiff tail. Resembling Crane or Stork, Secretary Bird is the only Bird of Prey who walks long distances instead of flying. In fact, some scientists think that She represents an older branch of Raptors.

A fanciful story claims that her name is from her long plumes on her head, that resemble quill pens. The Arabs called Secretary Bird “saqr et tair” which means “hunter bird”. This was pronounced in French as “secretaire” which sounds in English as “secretary”.

Secretary Bird is highly regarded by many Africans. She appears on the Coat of Arms of South Africa and the Presidential Seal of Sudan. As the national emblem of Sudan, Secretary Bird represents vigilance and military might.

Let Secretary Bird inspires you to defend what is rightfully yours. She walks the veldt in search of deadly Snakes. Brutally blunt in her hunting methods, Secretary Bird gets her prey. Walk with Her and feel your own power.

KITE SUB-FAMILY: Lightness of Being

Flying effortlessly in the skies, Kites amaze people with their grace and style. One of the most graceful Birds, Kites soar in the wind, stabilizing their flight with their tails. These long-winged Raptors feed on Earthworms, Insects, and small Mammals, swooping down and surprising them. “Kite” is a derivative of the old English word “cyta”. This word in turn comes from “skut” which means “to shoot or go swiftly”. This is in reference to Kites’ habit of swooping on their prey.

Unlike many other Raptors, Kites often live where people are. Red Kite was once so abundant in London that Shakespeare wrote, “When the kite builds, look to your lesser linen.” Red Kite has a habit of stealing people’s clothes for her nesting materials. Meanwhile, Black Kite raids garbage areas while dodging overhead cables in various cities. During nesting season, Mississippi Kites will often choose golf courses to raise their Chicks. And, many an unwary golfer have been attacked by the protective Parents.

The graceful buoyant flight of Kites has earned Them the respect and awe of many people. Mississippi Kite astounds people further when She catches Dragonflies while on the wing. Because Kites can soar in the air for hours on end, the toy “kite” was named for These Birds.

Kites teach the value of the lightness of being. Buoyantly, They fly effortlessly through the skies. Become lighthearted, shed your burdens and fly unencumbered. Like a toy kite, you too can float on the wind. Just remember to anchor yourself to the ground, so you do not float away.

PEREGRINE FALCON (DUCK HAWK): Act Decisively

The defining feature of Peregrine Falcon is her speed and flying skills. As the fastest Animal on the planet, She often chases Pigeons clocked at 200 MPH (320 Km/h). With incredible speed, Peregrine Falcon dives through the sky, and catches her prey with deadly accuracy. Striking the Pigeon in mid-air, She then captures the stunned Bird with her feet.

Peregrine Falcon’s primary weapon is her speed. Spying an unwary Bird, Peregrine Falcon goes into her “stoop”. She folds back her tail, and tucks her feet and wings into her body. Once into her dive, Peregrine Falcon’s sharp eyes are protected by her third eyelid. Usually killing on impact, She always knocks Pigeon out with a single blow.

Like many Raptors who hunt Birds, Female Peregrine Falcon is larger that her mate. Because Male Peregrine Falcon is one-third small than She is, He is usually called a “Tiercel” (from French “a tierce”, a term in falconry). Mating for life, Peregrine Falcon places her nest (scrapes) on high inaccessible cliffs. There, Mother Peregrine Falcon spends most of her time raising their Chicks (eyasses).

Snatched from the brink of extinction, Peregrine Falcon has learnt to survive and adapt. Wildlife recovery teams were successful in reintroducing Her back into the wild. Moreover, Peregrine Falcon has expanded her territory into cities, where She nests on the towers of suspension bridges and on the ledges of skyscrapers. For food, She hunts City Pigeons. Today, Peregrine Falcon is as at home in the cities as She is in open country.

Move swiftly to achieve your goal teaches Peregrine Falcon. While hunting, She acts decisively in killing Pigeons. After being decimated by DDT misuse, people acted swiftly to save Her from extinction. Relying on her consummate skills, Peregrine Falcon achieves what She sets out to do. You can also. Just let go of your fear, and “go for it”.

FALCON FAMILY (Falconidae): Nobility (3)

Falcons and humans have had a long and complex history together. In Ancient Egypt, Horus, the God of Life, was represented by Peregrine Falcon. For the Greeks, Falcons were the messengers of Apollo. In Peru, the Gods of Creation were born from the eggs of falcons. Meanwhile, Crested Caracara became the National Bird of Mexico.


In addition, peoples worldwide hunted with Falcons. Lanner Falcons, large bold Birds, are favoured by people in Arabia and the Middle East. Meanwhile, a tax on Gyrfalcons in Ancient China resulted in the down fall of an emperor by his falcon-flying nobles. In Japan, falconry was considered a noble art, with game preserves reserved for that purpose.

For Europeans, “Book of Saint Albans” (1486) listed who was permitted to hunt with what Falcon. Princes could only hunt using Peregrines, Ladies Merlins, and Knaves Kestrels. Because of Gyrfalcons’ eminence and power among Falcons, only Kings could fly Them.

However in later years, landowners and gamekeepers killed Falcons as pests. Farmers also poisoned Them for preying on their small Animals. Finally, the overuse of DDT destroyed many Falcon eggs. All these factors caused the numbers of Falcons to crash everywhere.

Then people worldwide rallied to save Falcons. Aware of the problems that DDT caused, conservationists worked to regulate its use. They also sought to reintroduce the Falcon populations into areas where They formerly were.

One notable success in the return of Falcons to the wild is the Mauritius Kestrel. In 1974, only six remained in the world. Through the efforts of many people, by 1992, 250 birds were returned to the wild. Conservationists had developed a captive breeding program to save these Birds. In addition, the government of Mauritius increased the size of their reserves for their Kestrel to live in.

Falcons exude authority, quickness, and fierceness: all qualities of nobility. By their very presence, They inspire us all do noble acts. Man and Falcon together is a glorious sight. Each works with the other to achieve great things. In Ancient Egypt, Horus, the Lord of Light, had a body of a man and a head of a falcon. With the help of Falcons, let us aspire to be noble in both our thoughts and deeds.

FALCON FAMILY (Falconidae): Nobility (2)

The other major grouping is the Polyborinae which comprises of the Caracaras, Forest Falcons, and Laughing Falcon. The Polyborinae are believed to be the direct descendants of the first Falcons. Generally grouped with the Polyborinae, Falconets and Pygmy Falcons are the smallest Birds of Prey who are active during the day.

Named for her shrill call, Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) is a specialist at catching and eating Snakes. While sitting in a tree, She scans the ground for the elusive Snake. Espying one, Laughing Falcon drops like a stone, and quickly grabs the surprised Snake with her feet.

Living only in the Americas, Forest Falcons are well suited for life in the rainforests. With their short wings, these Birds can twist and turn whilst flying through the trees. Then with their long legs, Forest Falcons seize their prey.

Meanwhile Crested Caracara feeds on sick and dying animals. He also scavenges at garbage dumps for food. Unlike the other Falcons, He has long broad-rounded wings.

FALCON FAMILY (Falconidae): Nobility (1)

Known for their courage and fierceness, Falcons are regarded highly by people. For many centuries, They have been a notable part of human culture. For example, in some religions, these Birds are representatives of the Gods or are their messengers. In addition, falconry is considered to be a noble sport by many.


The Falcon Family is usually divided into two groups (although many scientists disagree on how to classify particular falcons). The Falconiae consists of the “true” Falcons, that are the Gyrfalcon, Hobby, Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine. These Falcons are usually known by what They hunt. The “Duck Hawk” is the Peregrine, “Pigeon” the Merlin, and “Sparrow” the Kestrel.

The “true” Falcons (Falco) are then roughly divided into four groups according to their size. The first group consists of the Kestrels (except for American Kestrel). With only small adjustments to the trim of their wings, Kestrels can hover whilst keeping their heads still. Because of their constant hovering, Kestrels are also known as “Windhovers” and “Standgales”.

The second grouping consists of the Hobbies, who are best known for their aerobatic flights. Hobbies soar, swoop, then gracefully climb to the sky, and finally dive executing an intricate series of loops. Flying fast, Hobbies will steal from Kestrels while in flight.

The third grouping is Peregrine Falcon and her relatives. These strong fliers feed on mid-sized Birds such as Ducks and Pigeons. Also, in this grouping are the Hierofalcons (the Lanner Falcon, Laggar, and Saker).

The last group consists only of Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), considered to be the largest and most majestic of the Falcons. This formidable hunter dominates the Arctic skies. Going long distances, He will fly low over open tundra scanning for Rabbits. From his ledge perch, Gyrfalcon will suddenly swoop down to snatch an unsuspecting Ptarmigan for a tasty meal.
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CRESTED CARACARA (MEXICAN EAGLE): Rethink Old Ideas

Part predator and part scavenger, Crested Caracara is a member of the Polyborinae subgroup of the Falcon Family. (Native to the Americas, the Polyborinae group also includes the Forest Falcons and Laughing Falcon.) As one of the most eye-catching members of the Falcon Family, Crested Caracara has a distinctive black crest and a featherless red-orange face. In fact, this broad-winged Falcon is the charismatic National Bird of Mexico.

Not particularly a powerful hunter, Crested Caracara usually feeds on sick and wounded Animals. Instead of sharp claws like other Falcons, He has blunt ones, which are well adapted for walking and scratching in the dirt for Insects. Despite his slow flight, Crested Caracara is actually a close relative of the narrow- winged Falcons.

Also, Crested Caracara has another “unfalconlike” trait. He makes a nest instead of laying his eggs on a rocky ledge. However, his nest is an untidy heap of sticks. And, you can usually find Crested Caracara’s nest on the top of a solitary palm tree.

Crested Caracara takes every opportunity to obtain food. He patrols garbage dumps looking for rotting meat. In Brazil, He will fly along trains to eat meat offered on sticks by railway workers. Crested Caracara will even snatch a young Turtle as He searches the lakeshore for a tasty meal.

Although there are many aspects of Crested Caracara’s lifestyle that is decidedly “unfalconlike”, He is still a Falcon. This eye catching Bird urges us to rethink our notions of Falcons, as well as other things we thought we knew. He calls to us to expand our horizons, and to embrace new concepts about old established ideas. Look to Crested Caracara for inventive thinking.
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OSPREY (SEA HAWK): Choices

Often mistaken for an immature Bald Eagle, Osprey is the only raptor with a reversible outer toe. However, this “Fish Hawk” is neither a Hawk nor a Falcon, but instead is classified in her own family of Pandianidae. With her special toe, Osprey is perfectly adapted to capturing and securing her elusive prey-Fish.

As a fish eater, Osprey has one of the widest ranges for Birds, and can be found worldwide. Her opposable toe gives Her wide latitude also. For example, when Osprey is perching on a tree, her three toes remain in front while the fourth one grips the branch from the back. In catching a Fish, her toes line up with two on either side of her prey. Flying low over the lake, Osprey grabs her prey with her feet. Moreover, the spiny soles on her feet help Her to keep a firm grip on the slippery Fish. However if Osprey grabs a particularly large Fish, She stands a chance of drowning since She cannot let go easily.

People around the world respect Osprey and her mythic powers. The Pueblo People of North America named Her, “Water Eagle". Meanwhile other Native Americans regarded Osprey to have good powers since She often warned people of impending danger.

In Europe, Osprey was the “White Eagle” of heraldry, for She caught Fish through hypnosis. Instead of escaping, They would simply turn belly up in surrender. Because of this myth, people believed that killing an Osprey would cause the Mackerel and Herring to leave the nearby seas.

Anywhere Fish live, there you will find Osprey. With her special toe, She is highly adaptable. Wherever She dwells, Osprey employs her consummate skill at fishing. So good is Osprey that She is considered an honorary Eagle.

Osprey shows how having a skill allows you to adapt to life most anywhere. With a skill, you can thrive in any place of your choosing. Just do not become so overconfident that you grab a Fish large enough to drown you. “Choose wisely,” counsels Osprey.
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Copyright: Virginia Carper (2010), Animal Teachers, animalteachers @ gmail . com

Red-shouldered Hawk of North America

Identifying a Red-shouldered Hawk takes practiced observation. My first sighting of one was confirmed by a troop of Boy Scouts, at Sky Meadows at Shenandoah Virginia. The “red shoulders” of this hawk is actually the russet coloring on his wrists. Similar to Red-tailed Hawk in coloring, Red-shouldered Hawk has a longer tail. A compact flyer, his flying silhouette is also trim. These subtle characteristics help to differentiate Red-shouldered Hawk from Red-tailed Hawk.

A quiet elusive bird, Red-shouldered Hawk spends his time perched on a low tree branch, carefully scanning the ground for prey. Living near rivers and streams, Red-shouldered Hawk prefers pouncing on insects, frogs, mice, and snakes to hunting other birds. Unlike other hawks, he hunts from his tree branch.

However, during the spring, Red-shouldered Hawk makes his presence known to all. Crying “Keeah!” he soars the sky, filled with the exuberance of the coming spring. He is celebrating winter being finally over. Calling to his far-off mate, he cries, “Come join me! This is still *our* territory!” Together, the two soar in their dance, making broad circles in the sky.

After mating, the two hawks construct a stick nest in their tree. Often they will reclaim last year’s nest with a bit of greenery like a sprig of violets. Barred Owl, the nocturnal counterpoint to Red-shouldered Hawk, shares the same territory. Often if the hawk’s nest lies unclaimed, the owl will take it.

To steal his food, American Crows will mob Red-shouldered Hawk. But then, he pursues them for their food. However when Great Horned Owl, ruler of the forest, appears, then the crows and hawk will team up to fight off this owl.

Found in Eastern North America, Red-shouldered Hawk, for some inexplicable reason, has a colony in California. In addition, scientists believe that Ridgeway’s Hawk on Hispaniola was a subspecies of Red-shouldered Hawk that filled the niche of Board-winged Hawk. Outside of Jamaica, Hispaniola is the only island in the Caribbean that lacks a population of Broad-winged Hawks. (However, because of severe habitat destruction, Ridgeway’s Hawk is gravely endangered.)

What is baffling to naturalists is why Red-shouldered Hawk’s numbers are declining in the East. Habit destruction is offered as one reason, but hawks in old-growth forests are also becoming scarcer. Perhaps the decline has to do with toxic chemicals in their environment.

Meanwhile, Red-shouldered Hawk in California happily thrives nesting among the eucalyptus trees. Perhaps he is telling us to take up our courage and leave our comfortable homes. Instead of remaining where we are, we should go and embrace the new. Leave the past behind and create our own future, for if we do not leave, we will be poisoned. Red-shouldered Hawk will guide us to our new life if we let him.

Sources:

Dunne, Pete, “The Wind Masters”, Houghton Miffin Co, Boston, 1995.

Johnsgard, Paul A, “Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons of North America”, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., 1990.

Scott, Sir Peter, ed., “The World Atlas of Birds”, Gramercy Books, New York, 2006.

Snyder, Noel and Helen, “Raptors of North America”, Voyageur Press, St. Paul, MN, 2006.

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Copyright: Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers, 2008

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