![]() The Turkey Buzzard has a keener sense of smell than other birds. Their bills and feet are not designed to catch prey, and they prefer to eat fresh roadkill and other carrion. They will travel 30 to 50 miles on these currents in search of food. Turkey vultures use thermal currents to float on the warm air currents without flapping their wings, conserving energy. Owlets hatch in approximately 4 weeks and are ready to take flight in about 6 weeks. Eggs are brooded by the female, during which time the male brings the food. Clutches consist of 2 to 4 white-colored eggs. Barred Owl nests are often found high in a tree cavity, although they have been known to move into an abandoned nest created by hawks, crows, or squirrels. ![]() Perched close to each other when courting, both males and females will bow and bob their heads, raise their wings, and call out to each other. Without any warning, they will snatch up the unsuspecting animal in their strong talons. Using their night-vision, they will take flight and silently swoop in on their prey. Barred Owls have keen eyesight and will often perch on a branch while waiting for prey to appear. Hunts generally occur during dusk or dawn, although Barred Owls may be found hunting during the day when it’s raining or when raising young. Prey consists mostly of small mammals however, Barred Owls will also prey upon other small animals such as amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Barred Owls are the only species in the Eastern United States who have warm, dark brown eyes. Their chests are barred horizontally, and their bellies are barred vertically. Their faces are pale with dark rings around the eyes, and they have yellow beaks. Assist with the rescue and transport of downed eagles due to accidents or as a result of storms.Adult Barred Owls are 16–25 inches long and have a wingspan of 38–49 inches. ![]() Educate the community about Bald Eagles and their current threats.Expand Audubon EagleWatch on statewide and generate increased public awareness of our national symbol.Identify potential threats to nesting success caused directly or indirectly by human activity.Emphasize monitoring of urban pairs to record long-term nesting trends.Compile data for publication of urban nesting activity.We are looking for EagleWatch Volunteers: Click here to receive information on joining our team.īelow are the main objectives of the EagleWatch program: Today the program reaches many communities statewide, providing awareness of eagle nesting activities and conservation efforts for this iconic species. The Audubon EagleWatch Program has over 600 dedicated volunteers currently monitoring more than 1000 eagle nests in Florida. Additionally, the reports may be used by law enforcement agencies to prevent any harm to the birds and their nesting sites. These observations help eagle biologists determine the best conservation measures to ensure the success of the species. As a volunteer, you’ll spend some time monitoring one or more eagle nests in your vicinity. The EagleWatch program provides valuable information on nesting activity and current population trends of eagles in Florida. These non-natural nest sites can present many hazards to the young eaglets when they fledge. With continuing land development, many eagles are choosing to nest on man-made structures such as power lines and communication towers. Florida has one of the highest density of breeding Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states, only surpassed by Minnesota and Alaska.Īlthough they were removed from the federal list of Threatened and Endangered Species in 2007, Bald Eagles are still protected by both state and federal laws. Their current threats include habitat and nest destruction, collision with vehicles, and territorial fights. Thanks to the Bald Eagle Act issued in 1940 and the banning of DDT in the mid 1970s, more people can enjoy this majestic bird. Nearly brought to extinction by hunting in the late 1800s and later by the use of DDT in the 1950s, the Bald Eagle has made a comeback - but their numbers are not evenly distributed along their historical range. ![]() As one of the premier community science programs in Florida, EagleWatch works to protect approximately 40% of the state's nesting pairs. Based at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Audubon EagleWatch seeks information about Bald Eagles, active nest locations, and possible disturbances or threats to nesting activities. ![]()
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