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Ptice grabljivice su filogenetski nepostojeća skupina unutar razreda Aves koja obuhvaća 5 redova – Falconiformes (sokolovke), Cariamiformes (kariame), Cathartiformes (strvinari Novog svijeta ili kondori), Accipitriformes (jastrebovke) i Strigiformes (sove) (McClure i sur. 2019). Skupinu karakteriziraju oštre i duge kandţe na dugim prstima, oštar i zakrivljen kljun, oštar vid te dugačka krila prilagoĎena različitim tehnikama lova (Venable 1996). Ptice grabljivice su predatori, precizinije vršni predatori, što podrazumijeva zauzimanje vrha hranidbenog lanca. Ishrana uključuje plijen različitih karakteristika i veličina. Najčešće se hrane malim sisavcima, gmazovima ili drugim pticama, dok rijetko u kategoriju plijena ulaze ribe, vodozemci te kukci (Venable 1996). Izuzetak su supovi i kondori koji su najznačajnije oportunističke vrste unutar grabljivica, pri čemu se njihova prehrana zasniva isključivo na strvinama (ne love ţivi plijen) (Svensson i sur. 2010). OdreĎene vrste imaju mogućnost kontrole populacije plijena, specifično na populacije glodavaca, pri čemu je vaţno naglasiti kako su metode analize utjecaja na populacije plijena još uvijek u stadiju razvoja. Zbog izuzetne osjetljivosti na okolišne promjene izazvane antropogenim utjecajima (smanjenje staništa i populacije plijena), brojne vrste grabljivica nalaze se na IUCN-ovoj crvenoj listi (2022) kao ugroţene ili kritično ugroţene vrste, ali uz programe očuvanja grabljivice mogu doţivjeti porast prirodnih populacija u skorijoj budućnosti. Birds of prey (or raptors) are phylogenetically non-existent group in class Aves which numbers 5 orders – Falconiformes (falcons), Cariamiformes (cariamas), Cathartiformes (New World vultures or condors), Accipitriformes (hawks) and Strigiformes (owls) (McClure et al. 2019). Raptors are characterized by long fingers ending in long sharp talons, sharp and curved beak (or bill), keen eyesight and long wings specifically shaped for specific type of hunt (Venable 1996). Raptors are also predators, specifically apex predators, which are understood to take place at the top of the food chain. They feed mainly on small mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds, but can also feed on prey like fish, amphibians and insects (Venable 1996). All raptors hunt and feed on live prey, except of vultures who mainly feed on carrion (Svensson et al. 2010). Some species of raptors can even control prey populations (mainly rodent populations), but it is important to emphasize that exact methods of analysis of effects on prey populations are yet to be developed. Due to their extreme sensitivity to ecological changes caused by humans (loss of habitats and decline in prey populations), raptors are known to be the most endangered group among all birds. IUCN (2022) assigned a lot of raptor species endangered or critically endangered species mark, but it is believed that populations in the wild could see a rise in near future. |
