Celebrate Raptor Month Every October
October is Raptor Month.
At least it used to be.
Between 2006 and 2012 there was a Raptor Month website. According to the site, the month was a project of The Avian Promise, Inc. And it was supposed to celebrate birds of prey.
As far as we can tell, neither the Raptor Month nor Avian Promise websites still exist. But you can see how Raptor Month looked in 2011 on the Wayback Machine.
But none of this means we can’t still celebrate Raptor Month. Raptors are beautiful, fascinating birds, and they deserve the recognition.
That’s ‘Raptor.’ Not ‘Velociraptor’ …
To be clear, we’re celebrating the birds of prey kind of raptors. These birds—which include eagles, hawks, and owls—hunt other vertebrates.
They’re different from velociraptors (which is often shortened to raptor). These are extinct dinosaurs. Except in Jurassic Park, where silly scientists brought them back to life. And of course, it all went wrong and those raptors terrorized the humans.
Now, apparently September was Velociraptor Awareness Month. The Red Cross Cascades Region blog has some good tips for making sure you’re prepared in case of a velociraptor attack. And the American Society for Velociraptor Attack Prevention offers ways to ensure your home is protected from attack.
(Please remember … velociraptors are extinct … for now)
But lets get back to the real, live raptors we’re celebrating in October.
About Raptors
Raptors are, as mentioned, birds of prey. They hunt for other vertebrates, often mice, fish and other small animals, including other birds. Smaller raptors may also eat insects. Bigger birds can handle bigger prey.
And these birds do come in a wide variety of sizes.
The kestrel is the smallest. It weighs less than 1/2 pound. At the other end is the Bald Eagle. It can weigh as much as 15 pounds.
Most of these birds have 3 things in common:
- Very sharp claws (called talons) on very strong feet
- Hooked upper beaks
- Excellent eyesight
Raptors’ eyes take up a large part of their heads. In some cases more than 50%. And they see very well with them, allowing them to see small prey from high up in the sky.
Their talons allow them to grab and hold onto their prey, even carry it away.
They use their beaks to tear off small pieces to eat.
The two types of raptor without strong feet and sharp talons are the vultures and condors. That’s because they don’t need them. These two birds eat carrion (dead animals).
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
Ideas for Celebrating Raptor Month
What better way to celebrate than by learning more about these amazing birds? Consider one of these books:
- A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors: If you’d like to try your hand at identifying raptors in your area, the pictures and descriptions in this guide are invaluable.
- Raptors of the World: Even if you never visit most of these birds’ homelands, you can see them through this comprehensive book.
Are your kids interested in wildlife or birds? Introduce them to raptors with one of these books:
- Raptor! A Kid’s Guide to Birds of Prey: This book covers North American raptors, first with an overview and then individual species within each raptor family (hawks, owls, falcons, etc). Recommended for ages 8-12.
- About Raptors: A Guide for Children: This book covers the basics of raptors, from how they hunt to where they live. It includes information on raptors from around the world. Suggested age range: 4-8 years.
- Everything Birds of Prey: Swoop in for Seriously fierce Photos and Amazing Info: A National Geographic Kids guide for ages 8-12.
Adults and children alike might enjoy this Birds of Prey coloring book. Based on the reviews, many adults use the excellent and detailed drawings as patterns for various art projects.
Other ideas for kids:
- Real raptors aren’t too cuddly, but the Plush Lil Phantom Snowy Owl sure is! Any young bird fan is sure to love it.
- This set of 3 North American Birds of Prey is not only cuddly, it’s vocal! Squeeze each bird to hear a real bird call, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- For your puzzle fan, the EuroGraphics Birds of Prey and Owls Puzzle. It’s apparently challenging enough you might just want it for yourself!
And more ideas for you:
- Check out what the Belize Bird Conservancy is up to. It does a Hawk Watch in Belize starting in September
- If you’re in the Kempton, PA area (or will be), consider the Autumn Hawk Watch at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. It runs through December 15.
If you’d like to donate to the protection of and/or education about raptors and other wildlife, consider a donation or an adopt-an-animal program. You might like one of these:
- Friends of the WNC Nature Center Adopt an Animal: You can choose from different levels of support and many different animals. Your choices include several different owls, hawks, and a vulture.
- A Place Called Hope, a raptor rescue, rehab and education center.
- The Raptor Conservancy of Virginia: This facility is run completely on donations. It also has a wishlist, if you prefer donating supplies.
As always, check out any charity before you donate. We can’t promise they use your donations in ways you approve of.
And finally, although it’s the wrong kind of raptor for this celebration, make your Halloween complete this year with a velociraptor costume for your dog!
Do you have any creative ideas for celebrating Raptor Month?
[…] Raptor Month: Birds of prey are fascinating and beautiful. And definitely deserving of a month of celebration and admiration. If you don’t already know about these birds, take some time to learn. And if you already know and love them, maybe go bird watching to see if you can spot any raptors. […]