Reading up on the neglected group of raptors, the caracaras, I was rather shocked to find a major skeleton in ornithology's closet. A collector of museum specimens who has several species named after him likely killed the last ten or so individuals of the Guadalupe caracara (Caracara lutosa). So here we have a species not just killed off by humans in general, but by one human specifically. Make that two species, as the bird also carried a parasite not known to use any other hosts.
The important point here is of course the lack of information - Rollo Beck had assumed that the species was still abundant, simply because he very quickly found the group which he then slaughtered. Lack of knowledge and understanding of the important ecosystem function of the caracaras and other raptors and scavengers is also what previously drove that species to the brink of extinction and is still endangering many others today.
So the feature is mainly a call to all humans to support and appreciate their local raptors, including those that have a shady reputation, like vultures and caracaras.
When raptors soar no more
Current Biology Volume 34, Issue 12, 17 June 2024, Pages R553-R555
Restricted access to full text and PDF download
(will become open access one year after publication)
Magic link for free access
(first seven weeks only)
See also my new Mastodon thread where I will highlight all this year's CB features.
Last year's thread is here .
The striated caracara (Phalcoboenus australis) has been described as inquisitive and fearless by Charles Darwin and other visitors to the islands of the South Atlantic. (Photo: kuhnmi/Flickr (CC BY 2.0 Deed).)
No comments:
Post a Comment