Save Our Raptors

The Conflict...

Across the USA, countless birds of prey are being killed at landfills. Our mission is to bring public awareness to this issue, and then convince the industry to implement solutions and remedies to this problem.

Landfills consist of a treeless landscape which attract rodents, a favorite food source of raptors. The height of the methane burners (or flares as they are called in the industry) are a perfect perch for raptors hunting for tasty rodents and other prey. Unfortunately, methane burners usually have an igniter which causes a sudden or continual invisible flame that can scorch or kill anything perched or flying over them. Because landfills are very low-traffic areas, a very small percentage of these birds are ever found and treated, and most painfully succumb to their injuries.

Birds have been found in Texas, Illinois, Delaware, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York and Oklahoma to name just a few states. Raptors are not the only victims. At some landfills bird skeletons, including songbirds, have been found littered around the burners. For the few birds that survive, rehabilitation is an extremely lengthy process as the singed feathers must grow out and be replaced by new. If a bird is freshly molted, this process will take a year..

Raptors are fully protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and as such, it is illegal to harm them. In fact, the fine for harming any bird, from the smallest songbird to the largest raptor is $15,000 per bird.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
The ultimate solution to this problem is an environmentally friendly one: Reclaim and recycle the methane. If this is not feasible, then spikes or other excluder devices on top of the burners should be installed. This will prevent the birds from landing and perching on these burners. In addition, there should be taller “T” perches provided outside the flame's reach, as the birds that are not aware of the spikes may still try and land on the stacks and will be burned on approach.

To do this will not be quick or easy. There is no government oversight with regards to landfills and we still have a long way to go in order to solve this problem.

HOW CAN YOU HELP???

First, please go to www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-our-raptors. Sign the petition and pass it on to as many people as you can. The more industry leaders are made aware of this problem, the easier it would be to work with landfill owners on the local level.
Next, investigate as to whether or not your local landfills are engaged in the burning of methane. If so, contact your local wildlife rehabilitators to see if they have received any burned birds. They may not even be aware of how these injuries are occurring. Let landfill owners know about this issue and encourage them to take measures to protect birds.
Finally, it is important that the public support their local wildlife rehabilitators. It can take up to a year of recovery for these birds and it is not cheap. Rehabbers are unsung heroes who are mostly overlooked when it comes to grants and donations. They work tirelessly and out of their own pockets and the public should support them as much as they can.

This will be a long, tough road. Most people are not even aware of this issue. Something must be done and soon. These magnificent birds of prey fill an important ecological niche at landfills and they deserve to be protected!