On Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2:00pm, 90 people attended Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium for a special opportunity to learn about raptors from a long-time Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute instructor. Perry Conway, a professional wildlife photographer and naturalist, presented Falcons: Streamlined for Speed, a visually captivating Winter Speaker Series program, which not only explored numerous unique raptor species but highlighted Conway’s stunning photography portfolio of raptors mid-flight, hunting, and feeding.
Raptors are carnivorous birds, or more commonly known as birds of prey. Conway pointed out the unique characteristics that distinguish raptors from other bird species in his photographs. They are identifiable by their eight sharp talons, hooked beak and keen eyesight, which allows them to efficiently hunt and feed on small mammals, reptiles and other birds.
While there are more than 500 species of raptor worldwide, 25 documented raptor species inhabit Rocky Mountain National Park, including the golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, and various owls and falcons. Montane, subalpine, and alpine habitats in Rocky can significantly benefit from raptors, which play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health. Known as “keystone predators” for their importance in balancing food webs, raptors reduce the population density of small mammals, other birds, fish, and reptiles (NPS.gov). If raptor populations and breeding success dip in the park, this can be an indicator of an ecosystem imbalance.
Amongst these impressive raptor species is one of Conway’s life passions, the falcon. 37 species of falcon exist worldwide, 2 of which can be found in Rocky Mountain National Park; the Peregrine falcon and the prairie falcon. Being one of the fastest animals in the world, falcons are “streamlined for speed,” said Perry Conway.
Falcons’ aerodynamics and biology allow them to fly and stoop (dive) at high speeds, sometimes over 200mph. One of their evolutionary adaptations is bony protuberances in falcons’ nostrils, which breaks up the wind and allows them to breathe effectively when reaching top speeds. Their shallow, quick wing beat, paired with slim, narrow bodies, minimizes drag as they follow prey in quick pursuits.
Because of their ecological importance, Rocky Mountain National Park works hard alongside volunteers and members of the rock climbing community to help protect raptors and provide ideal environments for nesting and breeding within park borders. Raptors across the country are also protected by federal protections, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
One of the raptor protection efforts initiated by Rocky Mountain National Park is annual, adaptive, temporary closures in specific areas of the park to provide undisturbed habitat for raptors during their roosting, breeding, and nesting seasons. “Temporary closures occur at known raptor roosting and nesting sites that are also near rock climbing routes, hiking trails, or other focused recreational use areas. Temporary closures also protect park visitors, as raptors may attack people to defend their nests” (NPS.gov).
Raptor closure locations and boundaries are determined by years past and current raptor monitoring data to prevent human recreation from negatively impacting nesting raptors. Data is obtained by skilled and dedicated raptor monitoring volunteers, who “observe known nesting sites and contribute observations to the park’s database” (NPS.gov). By closely monitoring raptors throughout the breeding and nesting season, the park determines timing and extent of closures to balance preservation and visitor enjoyment. Active raptor monitoring also allows for more recreational areas to remain open to visitors, since park staff always know where raptors are nesting.
To learn more about the raptor monitoring program and closures in Rocky Mountain National Park, NPS.gov has additional resources and information. You can find those resources on the park’s website at Raptor Monitoring – Continental Divide Research Learning Center (U.S. National Park Service) and Raptor Closures – Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service).
We would like to thank Perry Conway for sharing his time and expertise on raptors, along with his contributions to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute program. The Winter Speaker Series are free events, made possible by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and generous support of members and donors. We hope to see you for upcoming presentations.
All photographs belong to Perry Conway