RAPTORS IN CAPTIVITYMany facilities have captive raptors in their care. In order to successfully care for these birds, their trainers must understand bird behavior to ensure a good quality of life. The ability to read and understand bird behavior is a skill that trainers must hone and continue to master throughout their lives.

Red tailed hawk sunning outside-American Bald Eagle Foundation

BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?This phrase is key when observing animal behavior. It’s easy to assign an emotion/feeling to a behavior we see, but we may be misinterpreting these behaviors.

What you hear: The bird is being aggressive.

What you see: The bird is vocalizing and lunging toward its trainer.

What it might actually mean: The bird is anticipating receiving food from its trainer and is acting anxiously as a result.

As you can see, an interpretation of a behavior is sometimes very misleading. What one person sees as aggression, another might describe as stress or begging.

Bird Behavior

101

American Bald Eagle Foundation

PO Box 49113 Haines Highway

Haines, AK 99827

Phone: (907) 766-3094Fax: (907) 766-3095www.baldeagles.org

Email: info@baldeagles.org

Information and Graphics Compiled by Katelyn Martin © 2015

The basics of raptor behaviors

Juvenile bald eagle preening its feathers- Yukon Wildlife Preserve

“COMFORT” BEHAVIORSA bird may exhibit a variety of behaviors that tell the trainers when they are comfortable. The behaviors below are often seen when a bird is “comfortable” in their situation.

Rousing: When a bird shakes out its feathers and re-settles them.

Preening: When a bird is actively cleaning or maintaining its feathers; the beak is being combed along individual feathers.

Roosting: Often characterized by the bird holding one foot up and under the feathers on the stomach.

Sunning: A bird will hold its wings slightly outward in the sun to warm up.

Ferruginous hawk mid-rouse on a snowy day-Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

“Stress” behaviorsThese behaviors are often seen when the bird is uncomfortable, stressed, scared, or agitated. It’s important to note that many of these behaviors are not concerning unless done frequently within a short period of time.

Bating: When a bird attempts to fly off the perch or glove; often preceded by crouching.

Footing: When a bird steps or grabs hard with their foot at the glove, perch, or another bird

Gular Fluttering: Most noticeable when feathers below beak are moving back and forth; it is like panting in a dog. It is often because the bird is a little too warm.

Bald eagle mid-bate-Renaissance Festival

American Bald Eagle Foundation

PO Box 49113 Haines Highway

Haines, AK 99827

Phone: (907) 766-3094Fax: (907) 766-3095www.baldeagles.org

Email: info@baldeagles.org

Information and Graphics Compiled by Katelyn Martin © 2015

WHAT WE DO TO PROMOTE “COMFORT”Before any staff, intern, or volunteer handles a raptor at the American Bald Eagle Foundation, they must have met certain requirements. This includes:

Spending a minimum of 10 hours observing the bird and building a relationship

Proving that we can be a steady perch when handling and manipulating safety equipment

Never punishing a bird

Striving to only have positive interactions with them

YOU CAN HELP TOO!As a visitor to our museum, or any place with live animals, you can help to ensure the animals have a good experience too! Always remember these things:

Be respectful: This is their home and their job. We want them to feel comfortable here.

Avoid sudden movements and loud noises: A fast movement may feel threatening or scary to an animal. Many animals have much better hearing than us and would feel more comfortable if we used our “indoor voices” and moved quietly around them.

Keep your distance: If you haven’t been told it’s ok to approach, give the animal some space. They may have a large personal bubble