Raptor Retrospective - Promoting Conservation of Birds of Prey
John Parks

Raptors or birds of prey have captured the fascination of humans since the beginning of recorded history. They embody many of the attributes that we, as humans, admire most - beauty, strength, courage, determination. Perhaps most of all, we venerate their mastery of the sky as skilled hunters at the top of the food pyramid. This position in the animal kingdom has also placed birds of prey in the precarious position of being sentinels for environmental change.

The Cornell Raptor Program was established to promote conservation of birds of prey through propagation, public education, and rehabilitation with emphasis on student involvement in the care and management of disabled birds in a captive environment. Students will participate in activities designed to demonstrate various aspects of raptor identification, biology, and natural history as well as husbandry techniques and procedures.