The Raptors of Iowa

A Growing Appreciation for Raptors

+฀97฀+ the sloW metAmoRphosis in the attitude of Iowans—and the larger society—toward raptors appears to be one of the greatest factors facilitating the restoration of populations of a growing number of these predatory bird species. Undoubtedly, some of the credit for this transformation is due to those who have been involved with environmental education by promoting the virtues of raptors. Events begun decades ago, like HawkWatch Weekends , Bald Eagle Appreciation Days, and Owl Prowls, allow tens of thousands of citizens each year to more personally experience these magnificent birds. Perhaps this change of attitude is also due to the fact that most people now grow up in towns and cities: They have not grown up believing that predator birds threaten the existence of the many types of domestic livestock that once were prevalent outdoors throughout Iowa. Regardless of the cause of the improved public attitude toward raptors, those of us who find our days and nights brightened by the presence of these birds are most grateful for this shift in consciousness. While it is important to credit environmental educators for their role in aiding raptor populations’ recovery, credit is also due to the wildlife biologists and a cadre of raptor enthusiasts who made it a high priority to return qr a GrowinG appreciation for raptors Bruce Ehresman . qr +฀98฀+ several raptor species that had been eliminated, or nearly so, from nesting in the Iowa landscape. In the 1970s, Iowa’s state ecologist, Dean Roosa, played a major role in collecting scientific data about Iowa’s endangered, threatened, and extirpated—eliminated as breeders—species. He then suggested that restoration programs be created to bring some of these species back. Dave Newhouse, Iowa’s first Department of Natural Resources nongame biologist, wrote a Barn Owl Restoration Plan, and the first of several Iowa raptor restoration and reintroduction efforts was underway. From 1983 to 1987, nearly five hundred barn owls were reared in captivity and released at forty-four sites in twenty-eight counties, mostly in concerned citizens’ barns and other outbuildings where barn owls had been prevalent several decades earlier. Radio transmitters placed on thirty-six of the released barn owls allowed researchers to learn that great horned owls were the main predator of this smaller species and that very few released barn owls survived. Still, twenty-five years later, efforts to maintain an Iowa barn owl population are paying off, and a nest box program for this species is working. Most years, about five barn owl nests are reported in the state, especially in southern counties where some grassland remains. Even though the barn owl restoration effort has not been as successful as hoped, Iowa’s next restoration effort has been. The widespread use of organochlorine pesticides led to the elimination of peregrine falcon nesting on the Mississippi River bluffs in the early to mid 1960s; by that time no more peregrines nested from Iowa to the east coast. Iowa joined a larger effort, the Midwest Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project, and in 1989 began hacking (a soft-release technique that includes providing the birds with food) peregrines from sites on tall buildings in large urban areas. From 1989 to 1992, fifty young peregrines were released from four different sites. This effort resulted in the first successful peregrine nests in three decades in 1993 and the establishment of three different nest sites, one each in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Davenport. Each of these three peregrine territories is still active today. +฀99฀+ By the mid 1990s, it was apparent to those of us involved with this reintroduction project that more peregrines should be released on or near the Mississippi River to encourage nesting in the historic eyries—the nesting sites—on the cliff faces lining the river. Fortunately for Iowa, Bob Anderson, who was breeding peregrines for the Midwest Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project at that time, moved to Iowa to help lead this Mississippi River bluffs restoration effort. An Iowa Peregrine Falcon Recovery Team was formed, and Iowa’s Peregrine Falcon Recovery Plan was revised by Iowa DNR Wildlife Technician Pat Schlarbaum. Former Iowa DNR employee and master falconer Lowell Washburn, as well as the Iowa Falconer’s Association, also played a key role in this restoration effort. Approximately 110 more peregrines were raised and released into the wild, and as a result of this effort, peregrine falcons are now nesting in historic eyries on Mississippi River bluffs...