41. Pictures Of Eagles, Birds; [Falconiformes]-Diurnal Birds Of Prey Animals birds; FalconiformesDiurnal birds of prey; Buzzards, Eagles, Falcons,Harriers, Hawks, Kites, Ospreys, vultures, Volume 2, Images by Wernher http://www.photovault.com/Link/Animals/Birds/Falconformes/ABFVolume02.html

42. Design2Graphics - Raptors Section shipp, web design, stock photography, birthday calc, birth, day of the week, raptors,vultures, condor, owl, owls, birds of prey, birds, scenics, photography http://www.design2graphics.com/html/raptors/raptors2.html

Birds of Prey If you would like to be notified as I update this section, please send me an e-mail The purpose of my Birds of Prey section is to provide you with information about Birds of Prey. Over the years, I have collected information about raptors and haven't had a good method of sharing the information.....until now. If you find this helpful, neat, and/or useful, please let me know by sending me some feedback . Thanks! I'd really like your feedback on this. Search my site for a specific Bird of Prey! All Raptors are listed below in their corresponding sections Condors: (see also Vultures) Andean Condor California Condor Falcons: Merlin Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon Hawks: Cooper's Hawk Sharp Shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Kites: Mississippi Kite Owls: Click here to go to my Owl listing. Vultures: (see also Condors) American Black Vulture American King Vulture Turkey Vulture Books on Birds of Prey: (Click the pictures to find out more! Search for a book: Books Enter keywords...

43. Birds And All Nature: Vision And Scent Of Vultures It has always appeared to us unaccountable that birds of prey, as vultures,could scent carcasses at such immense distances, as they are said to do. http://www.birdnature.com/apr1899/vision.html

VISION AND SCENT OF VULTURES. REV. R. T. NICHOL. To the Editor of Birds and All Nature: SIR: Are you not mistaken in the assertion in your October number that vultures, carrion-crows, etc., have such keen scent that they can detect carcasses and offal at a very great distance? I was under the impression that Wilson had decided this forever, and proved conclusively that their apparently miraculous power of discovering their proper food, was due to keenness of vision, and not of the sense of smell. The following extracts may be new to some and interesting to all of your readers: Under the head " Vultur aura, Turkey Vulture," etc., I find: "Observations on the supposed power which vultures such as the turkey vulture, are said to possess of scenting carrion at a great distance. "It has always appeared to us unaccountable that birds of prey, as vultures, could scent carcasses at such immense distances, as they are said to do. We were led to call in question the accuracy of this opinion, on recollecting the observations of some travelers, who have remarked birds of prey directing their course towards dead animals floating in the rivers in India, where the wind blows steadily from one point of the compass for months in succession. When I said "Wilson" above I find I was slightly mistaken. I remembered reading it long ago in the first edition I possessed of this writer's works — the little four-volume set edited by Prof. Jameson for "Constable's Miscellany," Edinburgh, 1831, and taking down the book now, which I have not opened for years, I find the passages in question (Vol. iv, pp. 245

44. Birds And Nature: The Hawks The family Falconidae, which includes the Hawks, the falcons, the vultures, thekites, and the eagles — all diurnal birds of prey — numbers about three http://www.birdnature.com/feb1901/hawks.html

THE HAWKS. Among the birds that are most useful to man may be classed the Hawks. They, with the vultures, the eagles and the owls, belong to the bird order Raptores, or birds of prey. Unlike the vultures the Hawks feed upon living prey while the former seek the dead or dying animal. The vultures are often called "Nature's Scavengers" and in many localities they have been so carefully protected that they will frequent the streets of towns seeking food in the gutters. The flight of the Hawks is more than beautiful, it is majestic. Even when perched high in the air on the top of a dead monarch of the forest, there is a silent dignity in their pose. It is from these perches that some of the species watch the surrounding country for their prey swooping down upon it when observed and seizing it in their long sharp and curved claws. Their food is almost invariably captured while on the wing. The bill, which is short, hooked and with sinuate cutting edges, is used for tearing the flesh of its victim into shreds. Among our more common hawks there are but five or six that may truthfully be classed among the birds that are injurious to the interests of man. Among these, the Cooper's hawk and the sharp-shinned hawk deserve the most attention as they feed almost entirely upon other birds and poultry. To these two the name chicken hawk may be aptly applied. The domestic pigeon is a dainty morsel for these ravagers of the barnyard.

45. BIRDS OF PREY OF PAKISTAN Certain birds of prey are hazardous to aircrafts. These birds include Indian whitebackedvultures, Egyptian vultures, Himalayan Griffon vultures, Long-billed http://edu.sdnpk.org/newbirds/part1.htm

BIRDS OF PREY OF PAKISTAN Back INTRODUCTION Birds of prey are "top predators" like lions and tigers. Except vultures who feed on dead bodies, they hunt and kill other creatures for food. They are also called raptors, from the Latin word "raptare" which means " to seize", as they seize their prey with their feet. Birds of prey are very primitive and geological history reveals that they were present in the Eocene period. In London, a fossil of the primitive bird Lithornis has been recorded to be sixty hundred thousand years old. This animal was considered to be a member of the vulture family. BIRDS OF PREY IN HISTORY AND MYTHOLOGY The diety Horus with a head of a peregrine Falcon, was perhaps the most influential of the many early Egyptian falcon gods.A Papyrus, from about 1250 B.C. shows Horus leading Ani of Thebes. Many ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses were linked with animals such as the Falcon-headed god Horus, meaning "the lofty one". The eye of Horus was believed to have protective properties and was a popular amulet. Falcons were buried in predynastic tombs and were worshiped in temples. Thousand of years ago when the Pharaoh ruled Egypt, the Griffon Vultures and Lappet faced Vultures represented the goddess Nekhebet, goddess of child birth. From history we know that cruel kings were known to have built wells far from their cities, where they would leave criminals. Then when the criminals died of starvation, theVultures banqueted on the dead bodies.

46. Birds Of Prey Sniglet birds of prey. Most birds of prey are falcons, eagles, hawks, or vultures. Howthey hunt. All birds of prey, except for vultures, catch their food. http://www.zoobooks.com/newFrontPage/animals/animalFacts/birdsofprey.html

B irds of prey. Most birds of prey are falcons, eagles, hawks, or vultures. There are about 420 different kinds of birds of prey, a name which describes their lives as predators. The smallest is the Bornean falconet, which weighs about one ounce and is less than six inches long. The largest is the Andean condor, weighing almost 30 pounds and with a wingspan that can stretch to more than 10 feet! How they hunt. A ll birds of prey, except for vultures, catch their food. Usually, a bird swoops down and tries to grab the prey with sharp talons. Some birds can dive at speeds of 80 miles per hour. When the prey is caught, the force of impact and the piercing talons are usually enough to kill the prey instantly. A harpy eagle has talons as big as the claws of a grizzly bear, and can carry away a small sheep; barn owls have delicate talons good for taking rats, mice, and other small animals. But 9 out of 10 attacks are unsuccessful, and the prey gets away. Vultures don't have to worry about catching their prey; they feed on animals they find already dead. What they eat.

47. Animals A-Z (V) If you do click here. Want to learn more about vultures? Click on Zoobooks, andcheck out birds of prey. This issue is part of a terrific subscription. http://www.zoobooks.com/animalsAtoZ/directoryv.htm

Animal Directory V To learn about your favorite animal, Click on the letter of the alphabet. A B C D ... Z Vultures Listen to Me S ome vultures have nine-foot wingspans and can weigh as much as a small dog. Because they are so large, they can't beat their wings quickly to create the lift that allows most birds to get off the ground. Instead, vultures make use of hot air currents called thermals. Each morning, as the earth is heated by the sun, columns of warm air rise up invisibly into the sky, and vultures hitch a ride. They circle and soar over the land below, moving from one thermal 'bubble' to another. Amazingly, it is possible for them to float for hours without ever having to beat their wings. How they hunt. A top their thermals, vultures carefully glide in circles, watching for their next meal. Their eyesight may be more than eight times sharper than a human's, and this lets them keep an eye on animals and other vultures as distant as two miles away. They watch for animals below that are dead or dying, because vultures eat only carrion, and do not kill their own food. When they are lucky enough to spy a dead animal, or notice that other vultures in the distance are quickly descending to a find, they dive to become part of a large, noisy group of birds that can reduce a large animal to bones in two or three hours. What they Eat.

48. Falconiformes (Birds Of Prey) Eagles, Hawks Old World vultures (4) Secretary Bird (1). The raptors (birdsof prey What does prey mean?) consist of 286 highly diverse species. http://www.thebigzoo.com/zoo/Falconiformes.asp

Home Zoo Birds :Birds of Prey Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Featured Products 18" Killer Whale 9" Sitting Tiger CuddleKins 13" Moose Order Falconiformes Secretary Bird The raptors (birds of prey ) consist of 286 highly diverse species. All are meat-eaters, equipped with excellent vision for finding food and strong legs and feet for catching and killing their prey. Most have hooked beaks and sharp claws on their feet. Most catch live prey, although some are scavengers , like the vultures. Raptors can be found throughout the world, except for Antarctica. Most Popular Bald Eagle Secretary Bird Ruppell's Griffon Bateleur Eagle ... Feedback

49. The Owl Pages - Links To Pages About Birds Of Prey Information and discussion list on the biology, ecology, behaviour and rehabilitationof diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey (eagles, kites, vultures, owls etc http://www.owlpages.com/links/raptor.html

The Owl Pages: Information about Owls Net OwlPages Navigation Send this Page to a Friend Print this Page ^Main Links Page ^Owl Pages Home Submit a Site Birds of Prey Links Click Here to submit a site for inclusion on this page. Raptor Rehabilitation Audubon's Center for Birds of Prey - Make an Owl or bird of prey a part of your family by adopting one of the center's many injured birds. http://www.adoptabird.org/ Brinzal - A Raptor rehabilitation site in Madrid, Spain. This page is in Spanish. http://www.brinzal.org Cascades Raptor Center - is a non-profit nature center and wildlife hospital specialising in birds of prey. http://www.raptor-center.com/ Eagle's Heritage , set on 29 acres of natural bushland, is the largest area in Australia specifically set aside for eco-tourism based rehabilitation of birds of prey. http://www.netserv.net.au/eagle/ EarthWings Raptor Care and Rehabilitation - members of the Society for the Preservation of Raptors. Volunteer wildlife carers specialising in birds of prey, and particularly owls. Located in Perth, Western Australia. See the photo gallery documenting the growth of Shadow the Barn Owl from 11 days of age up to fledging. http://members.iinet.net.au/~whiteowl/

50. Explore Birds Of Prey A few New World vultures are capable of smelling the location of carrion. SIZEThere are about 500 species of birds of prey. They vary greatly in size. http://www.peregrinefund.org/Explore_Raptors/

Birds of prey, or raptors, are meat eaters and use their feet, instead of their beak, to capture prey. They have exceptionally good vision, a sharp, hooked beak, and powerful feet with curved, sharp talons. Rollover the pictures for raptor traits Choose a Bird of Prey DIET Birds of prey have a hooked beak for cutting and tearing meat. Many raptors will either catch live prey or scavenge for carrion. Some species favor only live prey, while others prefer dead prey, and a very few raptors will even supplement their diet with fruit and other plant material. WING SHAPE Flight patterns are determined in part by wing shape. For example, raptors with long, broad wings can easily glide across fields or soar on updrafts. Raptors with short, broad wings are quick and maneuverable. Other wing shapes are more suited for spectacular high-speed dives or hovering just above the ground. DIGESTION All raptors, except owls, have a crop that

51. The Peregrine Fund - Notes From The Field - Asian Vulture Crisis Thiollay, JM 2000. vultures in India. Newsletter of the World Working Group on birdsof prey. Berlin. Wells, DR 1999. The birds of the ThaiMalay Peninsual. http://www.peregrinefund.org/notes_asianvultureNepalMunir_results.htm

Asian Vulture Crisis Results at a Glance Asian Vulture Crisis Conservation Project Introduction Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Camp in Nepal, Munir Virani, March 2001 Results at a Glance: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Camp in Nepal, Munir Virani, April 2001 Veterinary Work on White-Backed Vultures in Pakistan, Lindsay Oaks, April 2001 ... Student Notes The catastrophic collapse of populations of at least three species of Gyps vultures. Results at a Glance Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve - April 2001 The Koshi area is estimated to have about 150 White-backed Vultures, 10 Slender-billed Vultures and approximately 30 immature Himalayan Vultures that are over-wintering here. Since October 2000, we have located 65 White-backed Vulture nests and two Long-billed Vulture nests; The majority of nests are located in different forest patches in Ramdhuni forest – a community protected sacred forest about 10 km from Koshi Camp; Only six nests were located in the forest reserve; A total of 16 dead White-backed Vultures have been observed in the Koshi area;- villagers have reported observing more dead vultures although these reports are unsubstantiated;

52. Birds Of Prey Photo Gallery birds of prey Northern Shrike Sandi Dougherty sent us this photo of aNorthern Shrike in her yard in Canterbury, NH. Turkey vultures. http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw/Members/PhotoGallery00/BirdsofPreyPhotos00.htm

Birds of Prey Photo Gallery Song birds Birds of prey Woodpeckers ... Mammals Northern Shrike Sandi Dougherty sent us this photo of a Northern Shrike in her yard in Canterbury, NH. Turkey Vultures These vultures make quite a statement when they appear in the back yard! The photo on the left, below, was sent in by Judy Matthew of Pleasanton, CA. She wrote, "I looked outside and noticed a turkey vulture sitting on one of the beams over my deck. He was soaking up the morning sun. I usually see small birdsfinches, sparrows, jays, and hummingbirds, so the size of this bird really got my attention!" Carol Smith discovered a tree full of Turkey Vultures in her yard in Bastrop, TX (right photo, below). 2001 Express written permission required for use of images or text on these pages. FeederWatch is a joint research and education project of:

53. Birds Of Prey Quiz Raptors Which is not classified as a bird of prey? Bird Beaks Which birds have longand spearlike vultures In what South American mountain range are http://www.greatauk.com/wqbirdsofprey.html

Knowledge Master Home 100,000 Questions Academic Competition Free Questions ... How to Order Try previous weekly quizzes on other topics Weekly Quiz Demonstrate a fearless pursuit of auk ademic auk cellence by plunging, head-first of course, into these questions. Return every week for another quiz on one of the 14,000 topics in the Knowledge Master Library Birds of Prey (Click on the question number for the answer.) B Bird Classification When applied to birds, what is a synonym for "predatory"? A. oviparous B. raptorial C. three-toed D. hook-beaked E. high-soaring talon Bird Parts What is the two-syllable name for the claw of a bird of prey? A Ornithological Odes This first line from a poem by Tennyson is about which bird? He clasps the crag with crooked hands, close to the sun in lonely lands. A. eagle B. turkey C. parrot D. penguin E. flamingo falcon Birds These are fierce birds with hooked bills and large feet with long curved talons. They nest in depressions in cliffs. Unlike hawks, their wings are long and pointed. Name this bird of prey. B Burly Birdies Name the heaviest flying bird of prey.

54. Birds - Birds Of Prey birds of prey is the They are also known as raptors. All of these birds are faunivores orHawk family includes eagles, hawks, kites and Old W orld vultures. http://www.iwrc-online.org/kids/Facts/Birds/raptors.htm

"Birds of prey" is the term used to describe the hawk, falcon and owl families. They are also known as "raptors." All of these birds are faunivores - their diet consists of animals. The hawk and falcon families are "diurnal," that is, they are most active during broad daylight. The owl families are mainly "nocturnal," meaning that they are more active at night. The Accipitridae or Hawk family includes eagles, hawks, kites and Old W orld vultures. Their nearest relatives are osprey, falcons, American vultures and condors. Species of the hawk family are found almost worldwide, although not in the Antarctic, North Arctic or on many oceanic islands. Hawk family species range in size from the small sharp-shinned hawk to the enormous harpy eagle of south Mexico and South America. The Falconidae, or Falcon family, may resemble the hawk family in many ways but is set apart from it because the falcons have a bill that is toothed and notched. Falcons are found almost worldwide, with much t he same range at the hawk family. There are 58 species, including the kestrel of Eurasia and Africa. The falcon family species range from the tiny pygmy falcons of Africa, Asia and South America to the large gyrfalcon.

55. Discovery School - Teacher Guide - Birds Of Prey The other vultures must wait for a king vulture to Through time birds have evolvedto maximise their power of How do a raptor's feet help it to capture prey? http://discoveryschools.com.au/guides/birdprey/answer.html

What physical characteristics do all birds of prey share? All birds of prey are highly efficient hunters with strong breast muscles and wings for carrying captured prey. They also have specialised beaks for grasping and tearing flesh What are the differences between diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey? Diurnal birds of prey hunt during the day and have keen daytime vision that does not adjust well to the dark. Nocturnal birds of prey, such as the barn owl, use hearing to locate their prey which allows them to hunt even on the darkest nights. How do nocturnal owls hunt in the dark? Owls have assymetrical ears that are positioned at slightly different heights just behind its eyes. This height difference allows sound to reach one ear slightly before it reaches the other This time difference helps the owl determine if the sounds came from its left or right. Owls also have earflaps that work in a similar manner. The earflaps help the to if the sound is coming from above or below them. By combining these signals, an owl can precisely pinpoint its prey.

56. Birds People seldom realize the important function that vultures serve; were it not forscavengers, disease from rotting carcasses Most birds of prey have stiff http://www.geocities.com/dragoncave101/menu/birds/birds.html

BIRDS OF PREY Raptor Menu The term "raptors," or "birds of prey," generally refers to owls and the group of birds known as falconiformes. This group is divided into five families representing some 298 species worldwide. From the earliest of human times, birds have played an important role in mythology. They were seen as messengers, omens, predictors of weather or harvests, and as symbols of authority. The use of birds for killing other birds and small animals, called falconry, was practiced in China as long ago as 2000 b.c.e., making falconry possibly the world's oldest sport. There is still a sizable contingent of people who fly raptors for sport, and several organizations centered exclusively around falconry. Most birds of prey have stiff feathers, particularly the primary (flight) feathers. A Bald Eagle taking to the air can make quite a lot of noise as the air rushes through its flight feathers. In a stoop, or dive, a Peregrine Falcon can be heard for some distance. Owls, on the other hand, have soft feathers and can fly almost silently. This is also aided by soft ridges on the edges of their feathers. Under normal conditions, raptors tend to live a long time. Most reach breeding maturity at a slow rate. The California Condor, for instance, doesn't attempt its first nesting until the age of six years or later. Raptors lay only a few eggs at a time, seldom more than two or three in a clutch. The eggs usually require a long incubation period, and in many cases, the young need more than a year of feeding and care by the parents. Most hawks build large nests in trees, returning each year to the same site to add to the old nest. Bald Eagle nests may become many feet high and eventually so heavy they topple the tree in which they are built! Falcons build their nests on ledges high up on cliffs or on the roofs of tall buildings.

57. Birds Of Prey prey that ended well. Go to the following links to see pictures ofBirds Of prey. *FALCONS. *EAGLES. *KITES. *HAWKS. *vultures. *OWLS. http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Cliffs/4490/bopintro.html

My involvement with RAPTORS ( Birds of Prey ) began in the late 80's when I attended my first "Owl Hoot". " Hmmm" you may be thinking. An Owl Hoot ? Yes...an Owl Hoot. A group of people gathered east of Sherwood Park, Alberta. As I recall it was a cold December night.The leader of the group was Karl Grantmyer the Director of the Strathcona Society for Injured Birds of Prey. The idea of the Owl Hoot was to try and get owls to answer to recorded sounds of .... you guessed it... owls hooting. In particular the Great Horned Owl. The Great Horned Owl is the Provincial Bird of Alberta, Canada. Not only were recordings used, vocalizations by Mr. Grantmyer and others were also performed in hopes that an owl would answer. Much to my amazement the recordings and vocaliza tions were fruitful and they did get answering calls from an owl. In fact one owl even flew over the group, investigating the intruders into his territory. I had seen hawks, owls and eagles before this but they were just another bird. Little did I realize just then how much I would get involved with the Raptor Shelter and the recovery, treatment and release of Injured Birds of Prey. My first visit to the Shelter was a bit of an eye opener. Here I saw, owl, hawks and eagles CLOSE UP. There were other birds there also, ducks, geese, robins and even a couple of sparrows. I watched as the birds were fed. Some of the birds were so weak from their injuries that they had to be force fed. This entailed introducing a tube into the birds throat. Then using a large syringe filled with a metered out concoction of food and vitamins was fed into the bird.

58. Carvalho's Friends Of A Feather - Birds Of Prey Andean Condors or New World vultures Common Name, Genus. Andean Condorsor New World vultures, Cathartidae. Common Name, Scientific Name. http://www.friendsofafeather.com/birdsofprey.htm

Andean Condors or New World Vultures: Common Name Genus Andean Condors or New World Vultures Cathartidae Common Name Scientific Name Andean Condor Vultur gryphus Common Name Genus Hawks, Eagles Accipitridae Common Name Scientific Name Harris Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga Bataleur Eagle Terathopius ecaudatus King Vulture Sarcogyps calvus Falcons: Common Name Genus Falcons Falconidae Common Name Scientific Name Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Peregrine Falcon Falco Peregrinus Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides Barn Owls Common Name Genus Barn Owls Tytonidae Common Name Scientific Name Common Barn Owl Tyto alba Owls: Common Name Genus Owls Strigidae Common Name Scientific Name Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata Tawny Owl Strix aluco Kingfishers: Common Name Genus Kingfishers Alcedinidae Common Name Scientific Name Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae Back

59. WA - Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, And Other Birds Of Prey Raptor Facts (Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Kestrels, Owls, vultures, Osprey); Bird Vocalizations. SnakeRiver birds of prey National Conservation Area (BLM) .. http://www.sunnywalter.com/Apn-Birds-Raptor.html

Sunny Walter's Washington State Nature Resources Guide Raptors Go to: General Birds of Prey Links (Migration, Research, Field Guides, Location) Bald Eagles Hawks Osprey Falcons ... Vultures General Birds of Prey: Associations Research Projects, Field Guides, Vocalizations, Locations Raptor Associations, Research USFWS Chelan Ridge Raptor Migration Project The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota Raptor Facts (Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Kestrels, Owls, Vultures, Osprey) Bird Vocalizations Spring Raptor Migration Studies at Cape Flattery , Washington in 1990 - 1997 by Virginia and Welden Clark, Ken Wiersema, and Len Liu Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Research Projects Bald Eagles Feruginous Hawks Back to Top Raptor Locations, Field Guides Canadian Wildlife Service: Wildlife Vignettes Accipiters Bald Eagle Great Gorned Owl Osprey ... Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (BLM) Birds of Prey Profiles American Kestrel (Falcon - nesting) Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo - nesting) Golden Eagle (nesting) Prairie Falcon (Falcon - nesting) Red-tailed hawk (Buteo - nesting) Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo - migrating) Swainson's Hawk (Buteo - nesting) Woodland Park Zoo Animal Facts Sheets: WP Zoo (Raptor Center - Kestrel, Owls, Eagle, Gyrfalcon, Hawks, Vulture)

60. BBC News | SCI/TECH | Asia's Vultures Face Growing Threat Healthy longbilled vultures (Image by Guy Shorrock). of what's happening is so greatthese birds are headed vulture was the world's most abundant bird of prey. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1681000/1681642.stm

CATEGORIES TV RADIO COMMUNICATE ... INDEX SEARCH You are in: Sci/Tech Front Page World UK ... AudioVideo SERVICES Daily E-mail News Ticker Mobiles/PDAs Feedback ... Low Graphics Friday, 30 November, 2001, 14:34 GMT Asia's vultures face growing threat Dogs are the new scavengers, threatening humans and wildlife Image by Vibhu Prakash By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent The mystery disease decimating two Indian vulture species now appears to be attacking two more. Conservationists say they think it unlikely the birds will ever recover to their former levels. They say the scale of the decline is so great that the extinction of at least two species is possible. The implications for human health, both in south Asia and beyond, are disturbing. The white-backed and long-billed vultures have for several years been succumbing to a disease which causes their heads to droop, leaves them lethargic and usually kills them within a month. Massive decline In some areas, numbers have fallen by more than 90% within a decade. Dr Andrew Cunningham, of the Institute of Zoology (IoZ), London, UK, told BBC News Online: "We're almost certain a virus is responsible, and I'm more confident than I was a few months ago that this is an infectious disease, not pollution or poisoning.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Page 3     41-60 of 102    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | Next 20