80 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 econoinic 

 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 CATHARTID^. AMERICAN VULTURES 



325. Turkey Vulture: Turkey Buzzard (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 



