Indeed, these creatures which we view as symbols of independence, freedom and strength, deserve our respect and admiration. However, most of us are acquainted with only a fraction of the types of raptors that live around us. To truly respect these birds of prey, we must strive to understand not only their biology and ecology, but also how we, the human species, impact our avian neighbors, and how we can better coexist with them. A raptor is morphologically and behaviorally adapted to utilize a specific spectrum of environment and prey better than its coexisting competitors. Species have also made temporal adaptations, with owls being primarily nocturnal and the other raptors diurnal.
Raptors vary as much behaviorally as they do in appearance.
They differ in hunting and eating styles, migrations, social patterns, courtship rituals, rearing of young, nesting styles, and time of reproduction. Several studies indicate that raptor species' small populations are sensitive to decreases in reproduction, and there are quite a few forces acting against reproductive success. Siblicide, disease, weather and predation are natural causes of mortality, while habitat loss due to human intrusion decreases available territory and toxins such as DDT have weakened egg shells. For example, toxins released into the environment by humans concentrate in species lower on the food chain, resulting in raptors receiving fatal amounts of toxins from their prey. With modern ecological knowledge, we have acquired the wisdom to view raptors as indicator species of the damage that humans inflict on the environment.