They have featherless red heads and a pale curved beak. Turkey Vulture ( Cathartes aura ) is a large raptor commonly found throughout North America. Prairie Falcon are protected by the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act. During incubation, the male bird will hunt for the pair, and temporarily incubate the eggs while the female is eating. Using very little to no nesting material the female will lay between 2 to 6 eggs per clutch, and stay incubating the eggs for roughly 31 days. They will sometimes take advantage of abandoned raven or hawk’s nest. Prairie Falcon prefers to nest on ledges and cliff sides with a protective overhang. They thrive off of a variety of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and insects. For instance, their diet consists mainly fledgling songbirds in the spring, and ground squirrels during the summer months. Most adult Prairie Falcons are year-round residents at their nesting sites, but some will migrate short distances South or East during the winter months.Īn opportunistic hunter with a varied diet, the Prairie Falcon often focus on one abundantly available prey at a time. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) are found in fairly dry climates throughout western North America. Although ravens are protected by the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act there are some management practices being used to reduce numbers and protect threatened species. Biologists have found up to 250 juvenile tortoise carcasses beneath one nest. They are experts at hunting eggs and young animals. They are considered invasive and a threat to desert tortoises, sage grouse, and many other Mojave species because they outcompete many species for food and water. Ravens have high intelligence, with impressive problem solving skills outperforming apes and monkeys. Ravens are opportunist eaters and have been so successful at adapting to human development and the harsh environments of the West that over the last 40 years their population has increased by more than 700 percent! Ravens are believed to have the most diverse diet of any bird species, they will eat anything from trash to other animals. They are also listed as Endangered in Canada, and Threatened in Mexico.Ĭommon Raven (Corvus corax) are found throughout North America, and are an extremely clever and adaptable species. They are federally protected by the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Burrowing owls are listed as a Species of Concern in Arizona, California, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Burrowing owls numbers have been declining over the last 30 years. These opportunistic birds have often been found using construction sites with uncovered pallets, pipes, and culverts as nesting sites. Although burrowing owls are capable of digging a burrow using their sharp talons, they often utilize burrows created by ground squirrel, tortoise, or rodent burrows. Twigs, and plant material in front of a burrow is a good sign of an active nest. They are most active during the day, and hunt by swooping down from perches or hopping and running along the ground.īurrowing owls are found in dry open areas with low vegetation. They thrive in the Mojave off of a diet of insects, rodents, and reptiles. They are between 7.5 to 10 inches tall, with a wingspan of up to 24 inches. The American Kestrel is protected by the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act.īurrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a small owl found throughout North America and the Mojave. They have a varied diet consisting of large insects, small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Rarely catching anything mid flight, it relies on sharp eyesight to spot its prey from above. The American Kestrel is so small it gets knocked around by the wind quite a bit. The young begin to fledge around 4 weeks. They will also take advantage of abandoned magpie nests, cliffsides and nesting boxes.Kestrels lay between 4 to 7 eggs, which are incubated by both parents between 28 to 31 days. Kestrels prefer to nest in cavities, and will use dead tree snags, or openings in large cacti. As they age, they tend to migrate less and less distances. While Northern resident Kestrels migrate long distance South each winter. The populations found inhabiting the warmer climates, live there year-round. American Kestrel ( Falco sparveriu s) is the world’s smallest falcon growing to be roughly the size of a robin.Kestrels are widespread throughout North America, preferring semi-open landscapes such as forest clearings, farmlands, and deserts.
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