The AgriPost Birds of Prey Help Farmers

By Joan Airey

Prey birds are key partners for Manitoba farmers, adding security against infestations of crop eating and spoiling critters.

For example, a family of Red-tailed hawks can eat ten ground squirrels (gophers) a day over the summer thus eliminating them from eating a farmers crop or hay field.

The American Kestrel Falcon better known as the sparrow hawk’s main diet is mice.

Many visitors watched in awe as James Cowan, Director of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, put on the Birds of Prey show at the Royal Manitoba Fair in Brandon recently. All the birds used in demonstrations have been raised in captivity.

“The Raptor Conservancy has approximately a hundred and sixty birds on site at their breeding facility,” explained James Cowan adding that “they have released eighty Peregrine Falcons in the wild” over the years.

“Our motto is ‘Protect What We Know’ and the goal is to teach people about birds of prey, their role in nature as well as how important they are to the environment,” he noted.

The Conservancy makes appearances at a thousand events a year with various crews showing off the birds. They hope to teach how everyone can help birds and other animals in their own backyard.

A simple idea on how to help on the Prairies, is building nest boxes for either the Screech Owl or the American Kestrel. These two species are both comfortable regularly settling-in in manmade nesting boxes.

If you’d like to learn more about the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, check them out on Facebook or visit canadianraptorconservancy. com.