Test Questions Flashcards
What does the Migratory Bird Treaty Act protect?
Native Bird Species
What is the name of the law protecting Eagle parts?
Eagle Feather Law
Who owns our birds?
Fish and Wildlife Service
How many hours of training are required for an Education Permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service?
240 hours
Describe the 3 different types of anklets. Which one do we use?
Types are Aylmeri, Removable Aylmeri, and Traditional. We use the 2 Aylmeri types.
Which birds primarily use block perches?
Mostly falcons
What is the most important step when learning to handle raptors?
Learn to read bird’s behavior.
What knot do we use to tether birds to perches?
Falconer’s Knot
Define “bate.”
When the bird attempts to fly off of a glove or perch
If a bird bates while handling, describe the appropriate reaction.
Move the gloved hand up and away from any obstacles the bird could injure itself on.
What piece of equipment do we not use regularly?
a. Jess
b. Leash Extender
c. Leash
d. Swivel
e. Hood
e. Hood
Every single time you interact with the bird is like a transaction. What are some true statements about this concept?
A positive interaction credits trust into the bank
A negative interaction debits trust from the bank
You want a healthy positive balance in your trust account
FALSE: Do not hoard trust, spend it so it does not sit idle
The term “Study of one” in the context of raptor behavior means what?
Each bird must be considered to exhibit individual behavior.
What are some true statements about anthropomorphism?
It is the attribuation of human traits, feelins, emotions, and motivation to birds.
It can lead us to misrepresent the behavior of raptors.
It is an innate part of human psychology
FALSE: Raptors can relate better to trainers who act like humans
What kinds of descriptions of behavior are NOT helpful when working with the birds?
General or vague descriptions such as “Aggressive” or “Excited to see me”. Be description of specific behavior not the interpretation of it.
What ABC (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) path do we base our behavior training on?
Stimulus -> Desired -> Positive Reinforcement
Raptors are which of the following?
a. Warm blooded
b. Cold blooded
c. Vertebrates
d. Invertebrates
e. Egg laying
a. Warm blooded
c. Vertebrates
e. Egg laying (Oviparous)
Locate the following parts of a raptor:
1. Cere
2. Nare
3. Keel
4. Crop
5. Patagium
6. Supraorbital Ridge
- The cere is the “base” covering of the beak, near the nares
- The nares are the nostrils
- The keel is the large plate extending from the sternum
- The crop is near the “throat” of the bird for storing food
- The patagium is the skin on the leading edge of the wing going from head to wrist
- The supraorbital ridge is the “brow” of the bird, a covering above the eye
The function of feathers in raptor is what?
Insulation from heat and cold
Protection of the skin
Behavioral display
Camouflage
Flight lift and control
Describe Flight, Down, Bristle, and Powder feathers individually.
Flight feathers - vaned feathers with a shaft down the middle
Down feathers - short, fluffy insulation feathers
Bristle feathers - modified, vaneless contour feathers around the face
Powder feathers - grow continuously, powdering tips spread while preening for preservation/waterproofing
Describe molting:
A shedding/renewal of feathers, typically once a year.
List raptors that have feathered tarsi.
Ferruginous hawk, Rough-legged hawk, Great-horned owl, Snowy owl, Golden Eagle
What special adaptations does the skeletal structure of raptors have?
Hollow bones, large and strong leg bones
Compare the structure of your arm to the wing of a raptor
Raptor wings are very similar, with fused and reduced carpals and digits.
Which is the largest muscle in raptors?
The pectoral muscles, or pectoralis major
Describe the adaptation of the mouth to the beak in raptors
Reduced complexity and weight, with the mandibles replacing jaws and teeth.
What is the Tomial Tooth?
A sharp ridge on the upper mandible for quickly killing prey
Describe the following behaviors in raptors:
1. Preening
2. Rousing
3. Feaking
4. Mantling
- Preening is the process of realigning feathers and repairing minor damage
- Rousing is the process of raising the feathers, shaking them out, and then slicking them back down again. It is a sign of comfort.
- Feaking is the process of rubbing the beak against a surface for cleaning and beak shape.
- Mantling is the process of spreading the wings and tail feathers over a recently killed prey item for defense.
Label the following feather parts of a flight feather:
Quill, Rachis, Barb, Barbule, Hooks
Quill is the base of the shaft
Rachis is another term for shaft down the middle of the feather
Barb is a branch off from the shaft/rachis
Barbule is a twig off of the branch/barb
Hooks are on the barbules and help hold the web together
The skeletal structure of birds: (select all that apply)
A. Is continuous with the nasal cavities
B. Has internal cross braces for support within the bones
C. Do not contain air
D. All of the above
A. Is continuous with the nasal cavities
Birds lack a diaphragm, True/False?
True
Preening is a display of normal and typical behavior for a bird, True/False?
True
If the mute of a raptor includes a green color, this indicates that their digestive system is full and that the bird is displaying health, True/False?
False, it means empty stomach (bile)
Which of the following is true?
A. Diurnal raptors have a crop, used for storing food temporarily before it enters the proventriculus and then the gizzard.
B. Nocturnal raptors have a crop, used for storing food temporarily before it enters the proventriculus and then the gizzard.
C. All raptors have a crop, used for storing food temporarily before it enters the gizzard and then the proventriculus.
D. All raptors have a crop, used for storing food temporarily before it enters the proventriculus and then the gizzard.
A. Diurnal raptors have a crop, used for storing food temporarily before it enters the proventriculus and then the gizzard.
The pellet is formed in the crop, True/False?
False, it is formed in the gizzard
Raptors have specific nutritional needs that can be met by mass market retailers, True/False?
I’m guessing False because of the wording
Captive raptors obtain most of their water intake from what?
Their food sources
The respiratory system in raptors is one of the most powerful and efficient in the entire animal kingdom, True/False?
True
Birds are most commonly believed to have evolved from what?
Theropods
The Cursorial Theory of flight is generally described as what?
From the ground up
The Arboreal Theory of the origins of flight is generally described as what?
From the trees down
Describe convergent evolution.
When different species evolve similar niches and adaptations.
Lead exposure threatens raptor populations in the wild, True/False?
True
Owls are classified under which Order?
Strigiformes
Yellow or Orange eyes mean an owl is what?
Crepuscular (and maybe Diurnal?)
Owls have how many vertebrae?
14
Owls can turn their head how far around?
270°
Tufts are used for what?
Camouflage, Courtship, and Communication
Eastern Screech Owls have how many color phases, and what are they?
There are 2 color phases, gray and red
The Eastern Screech Owl can be found in what habitats?
Mostly woodlands, needs tree cover
What is the main difference between the Western Screech Owl and the Easter Screech Owl?
Their ranges and Western has a darker bill, while Eastern has lighter.
The Western Screech Owls’ range encompasses what portion of the United States?
From the west coast to as far as the western most part of Texas
What habitat does the Barred Owl live? Where has it recently expanded its range into?
The live in riparian zones (transition between terrestrial and aquatic). They have recently expanded into central and western USA.
The Great Horned Owl is the heaviest owl in North America, True/False?
True
The Great Horned Owl is known as the Tiger Owl, True/False?
True
Which owl species is best known for eating skunk?
The Great Horned Owl
Name the owl species that was historically believed to be a ghost in the trees.
The Barn Owl
Hawks can see how much better than humans?
8 times
Red-tailed Hawks are the largest hawk in North America, True/False?
False, the ferruginous hawk is larger
The RTHA has a wingspan of about 2-4 ft., True/False?
False, 3.5 - 5 ft.
When do RTHAs grow their red feathers?
2 years
A RTHA call is dubbed over eagle calls on tvs, True/False?
True
What do we call a group of Broad-winged hawks?
Kettle
What do we call the identifying stripe on falcon heads?
Malar stripe
The kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America, True/False?
True
The American Kestrel can hover, True/False?
True
The American Kestrel can see in the ultraviolet spectrum, True/False?
True
Which word describes a group of vultures?
A Kettle, Committee, or Wake
Describe urohidrosis.
Defecation onto the scaly portions of the birds legs as a cooling mechanism.
What is the average wingspan of a Turkey Vulture?
6 ft
Turkey Vultures have the largest olfactory system of any bird, True/False?
True
