Broomfield Raptor Management Plan
Broomfield is fortunate to have a variety of active raptor populations thriving in a suburban setting. However, these majestic birds, which include species like Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls and Red-tailed Hawks, are sensitive to disturbances in their nesting and breeding habitats. To identify ways to minimize habitat impacts on raptors and develop best management practices at the local level, Broomfield is creating a Raptor Management Plan. This plan will seek to protect raptors, while also working within the state and federal regulatory framework and respecting private property rights.
The City and County of Broomfield is taking a proactive approach to protect and enhance raptor habitat and breeding success within the region. Open Space and Trails Staff, along with a team of ecological consultants from Smith Environmental and Engineering, are actively developing a Raptor Management Plan.
In mid-september, the project team presented its initial approach (below) to the Open Space and Trails Advisory Committee. You can learn more about the plan (Raptor Plan Overview) , how to get involved, and leave your comments below.
What is a raptor?
Raptors are carnivorous birds that hunt and capture prey and carrion (dead animals). Generally, these birds eat things such as rodents, snakes, fish and insects. Raptors can be either diurnal, meaning they feed during the day, or nocturnal, meaning they feed at night.
Raptors have three distinctive characteristics:
- Sharp talons used to seize prey
- Hooked-beak used to kill and consume prey
- A diet consisting entirely of meat
In Broomfield, some of the more common raptors that live, nest and breed in our community include:
- Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos)
- Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Swainson's Hawks (Buteo swainsoni)
- Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
- Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
- American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
- Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
- Great-Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
- Western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
- Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
- Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias)*
*Not a raptor, but will be included in this plan as habitat, behavior, and breeding is very similar to raptors and they actively nest in Broomfield.
Raptors are predators and are often at the top of the food chain in local ecosystems. For this reason, raptors are often key indicators of ecosystem health. Active monitoring of raptor populations here in Colorado highlights the many challenges that these birds face. Fragmentation and degradation of their habitat, vehicular strikes, pollution and unintentional poisoning, along with many other human caused impacts are adversely affecting our wild raptors.
Get Involved:
- Using the questions and poll below submit your inquiries about raptors. What do you know? What would you like to know?
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