Birds of Prey
Birds of prey, or raptors, are the hunters of the bird world. They typically have large, strong feet with which they seize and kill their prey as well as powerful, strongly hooked beaks that are used to tear prey into bite-sized chunks.
In the NWT, all raptors' nests and eggs are protected by legislation. The NWT also maintains an active raptor research program. Every summer, peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, golden eagles and rough-legged hawks are surveyed by helicopter over thousands of square kilometers. The information collected is used to assess trends in population levels and reproductive performance, which are valuable indicators of contaminant levels in the environment.
Links
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Goshawk
Gyrfalcon
Merlin
Northern Harrier
Osprey
Peregrine Falcon
Population Trends
Protection
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk