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Birds of Prey
Protection
All
raptors in the NWT, and their nests and eggs, are protected by
legislation. A person found
to be in illegal possession of such a bird or egg, whether it is alive or
dead, is subject to a fine between two and ten thousand dollars, and/or up
to two years in prison. If
you find a dead or injured raptor, it must be turned in to the nearest
Renewable Resource Officer.
The
NWT maintains an active raptor research program.
Each summer, peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, golden eagles, and
rough-legged hawks are surveyed by helicopter over thousands of square
kilometres. The information collected is used to assess trends in
population levels and reproductive performance which, in turn, are
valuable indicators of contaminant levels in the environment. Intensive
ecological work is also being carried out on gyrfalcons in the Central
Arctic to better understand what factors effect yearly changes in
reproductive success. Metal
leg bands are attached to captured raptors by researchers in the NWT and
elsewhere. Sightings and recoveries of these markers provide valuable
information on migration patterns and life-spans. If you see or find a bird with such markers, please report
the date, location, band number and band colour to the nearest Renewable
Resource Officer.
Raptor
nests (eyries) are usually situated in a location where it is inaccessible
or invisible to most predators. The same pair will return year after year
to the same nesting area and frequently to the same nest. It is important
that a strong bond develop between a mated pair as the cooperation of both
birds is required to incubate the eggs, feed the young (eyasses), and defend the
nest site. This pair bond is
often weakest during the initial breeding stages. Thus,
it is very important not to disturb raptors at their nest sites.
Human activity near a nest site during mating and incubation may
cause a nest to be deserted.
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