30 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
RAPTORES 
The Raptores are divided into six families, which include 
the Vultures, Eagles, Hawks and Owls, etc. About thirty-five 
species of these families are represented in South Dakota. Most 
of them are summer residents: the Great Horned and Screech 
Owls and Eagles are annual residents: the Snowy Owl and the 
Goshawk are winter residents, and individuals of other species 
may occasionally spend a winter in the State. 
Perhaps no other class of birds is of greater economic 
value to our agricultural interests, although none is less appre- 
ciated. Of the thirty-five species, at least thirty are working 
day or night to keep down the great armies of mice, gophers 
and larger insects, such as grasshoppers and crickets, which 
destroy millions of dollars worth of crops every year. And yet 
the average citizen seems proud of positive knowledge, as he 
thinks, that every Hawk and Owl lives especially to feed upon 
his poultry. Many of our boys are given guns and allowed to 
destroy innocent life, perhaps even ordered by their parents to 
“kill every Hawk in sight.” This is the reason that our so- 
called sportsmen, while hunting, slay every Hawk and Owl that 
cross their paths. Will we ever be educated up to the point 
where public sentiment is against this everlasting murder, 
murder, murder of innocent life? 
Sufficient investigations and examination of the contents 
of stomachs of these birds at different seasons have been made 
by the Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, to justify 
them in making authoritative statements as to the character of 
Hawks and Owls in the United States. Every Hawk or Owl of 
South Dakota, whether resident or migratory, will be described 
in this bulletin to further aid the public in identifying the species 
that should be protected. 
FAMILY CATHARTIDA. AMERICAN VULTURES 
325. TurKEY VULTURE: TURKEY Buzzarp (Cathartes aura 
septentrionalis. ) 
These large birds are frequently seen during the summer 
along the Missouri River and over the western half of the State, 
especially in the bad lands. They have been known to nest in 
