Living with birds of prey

Our continent is home to 24 species of diurnal birds of prey. These can be divided into two main groups. The family Accipitridae includes the broad-winged eagles, hawks and kites. The family Falconidae is comprised of the falcons. ‘Raptors’, as they are often colloquially known, are a diverse group and they range greatly in size and behaviour. They have evolved to take advantage of every habitat on the Australian continent and Tasmania, from sandy deserts to cool temperate rainforests.

Although some are shy and rarely seen, others are more likely to live near human habitation. Even if you live in the CBD of one of our major cities, the chances of having a close encounter with one are pretty good; for example, Australian kestrels, Australian hobbies, Collared sparrowhawks and Peregrine falcons are commonly seen in built-up areas. Despite the resilient nature of raptors, our way of life poses a big threat to the survival of these birds.

This unique group of birds has fascinated me since my early childhood. For the past 12 years, I have been fortunate enough to live on a 20-acre Trust for Nature covenanted property in Victoria. In this idyllic atmosphere of open woodland and reed-fringed wetlands, I have been able to care for injured birds of prey under a government permit. I have found that operating a wildlife shelter places you at the coalface of human/wildlife interactions. Aside from the usual phone calls from members of the public who have found injured birds or simply have a story to tell, I have also received many calls from those who have conflict-related issues with what they call ‘nuisance’ raptors. The attitude of those who phone in can range from vitriol to reverence, with every shade in between. Perhaps no other group of birds invokes such powerful emotional reactions in people.

Various species of Australian birds of prey share their environment with people. They can be useful creatures to have around, helping to control rodents, rabbits and exotic birds such as sparrows and starlings. As top-order predators, raptors are an important component of our ecosystems. But, sometimes, birds of prey become victims of persecution by people or accidents in our environment; for instance, barbed wire puts eagles and other wildlife at risk of terrible injury and death. It is my hope that by learning more about these avian wonders it may help members of the community to live more harmoniously with our predatory neighbours who, of course, also have an intrinsic right to exist in the wild.