Despite having so many Caracara, Gonzales is also one of the top cow/calf producing counties in the state. Things could be better, because in the spring, Gonzalean pastures are littered with the carcasses of thousands of eyeless calves.

Nice... Yeah the eye gouging behavior has never been documented in caracaras but it has in vultures. Vultures will only resort to this measure in very dire circumstances when there is little to no carrion to be had.

So if you'd like to prevent this behavior go shoot some wild hogs in the nuts and keep your vultures/Caracaras fed. It's a win/win situation for all involved. Our vultures are as fat as ticks all the time down on the family ranch.

Aka Mexican eagles

[url=https://imgur.com/woYQhLK][/url]

This guy hangs out in the HEB parking lot on Potranco Rd San Antonio whenever there are not too many cars there.

[url=https://imgur.com/WD19tWL][/url]

This is what it w!as eating. Yuck!

Edit to add: I am usually one of the first vehicles in the HEB parking lot. This bird was eating on this pile of puke for three straight days when I pulled in. He finally got it cleaned up!

txags92 said:

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Na Zdrav 87 said:

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Die from lead poisoning

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Probably not a great idea to admit to killing a federally protected species on an open message board. Have you ever actually seen them attack a calf that was healthy? Like a lot of other wildlife stories, I have always suspected they hang around looking for placenta, and if a calf is stillborn or born deformed/unhealthy, they are there to take advantage if they don't survive. Then the rancher walks up and sees a dead calf with its eyes pecked out and assumes the birds killed it.

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Yes. Birds of prey including vultures and your federally protected species do occasionally take out a newborn calf.

Not just the stillborn and unhealthy you mentioned. Some ranchers spend lots of time/ resources watching during calving. Predators don't always win.

alvtimes said:

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Brown County Texas Caracara Club checking in

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Wait, what? Who are your members? Where do you meet?

Not a rare sighting at all. They are all over Texas. Beautiful Birds.

Mas89 said:

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txags92 said:

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Na Zdrav 87 said:

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Die from lead poisoning

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Probably not a great idea to admit to killing a federally protected species on an open message board. Have you ever actually seen them attack a calf that was healthy? Like a lot of other wildlife stories, I have always suspected they hang around looking for placenta, and if a calf is stillborn or born deformed/unhealthy, they are there to take advantage if they don't survive. Then the rancher walks up and sees a dead calf with its eyes pecked out and assumes the birds killed it.

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Yes. Birds of prey including vultures and your federally protected species do occasionally take out a newborn calf.

Not just the stillborn and unhealthy you mentioned. Some ranchers spend lots of time/ resources watching during calving. Predators don't always win.

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I am well aware of the history and documented cases regarding calf predation by Black Vultures. I have not seen similar documentation regarding Caracaras beyond anecdotal claims, but none of the anecdotes I have seen actually describe seeing the Caracaras actually attacking a live calf. The science I have seen suggests they do not have the same beak strength that Black Vultures have to allow them to open up the carcass and are therefore better suited for going after degraded carcasses or things like placenta or soft spots on injured or stillborn animals. And just FYI, all of the birds of prey are federal protected, not just the Caracara.

txags92 said:

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Mas89 said:

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txags92 said:

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Na Zdrav 87 said:

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Die from lead poisoning

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Probably not a great idea to admit to killing a federally protected species on an open message board. Have you ever actually seen them attack a calf that was healthy? Like a lot of other wildlife stories, I have always suspected they hang around looking for placenta, and if a calf is stillborn or born deformed/unhealthy, they are there to take advantage if they don't survive. Then the rancher walks up and sees a dead calf with its eyes pecked out and assumes the birds killed it.

---

Yes. Birds of prey including vultures and your federally protected species do occasionally take out a newborn calf.

Not just the stillborn and unhealthy you mentioned. Some ranchers spend lots of time/ resources watching during calving. Predators don't always win.

---

I am well aware of the history and documented cases regarding calf predation by Black Vultures. I have not seen similar documentation regarding Caracaras beyond anecdotal claims, but none of the anecdotes I have seen actually describe seeing the Caracaras actually attacking a live calf. The science I have seen suggests they do not have the same beak strength that Black Vultures have to allow them to open up the carcass and are therefore better suited for going after degraded carcasses or things like placenta or soft spots on injured or stillborn animals. And just FYI, all of the birds of prey are federal protected, not just the Caracara.

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I agree with this after watching my herd the last 15-ish years in a heavy Caracara habitat. The black vultures are the problem. Not the reds. Not the caracara.

The caracara only move in and dig in once the animal is pretty well completely motionless. They'll hang around a calving momma cow but only waiting for fresh placenta or dead baby calf. The moment that calf is up and wobbling and momma finishes the placenta, they lose interest quickly.

Black vultures are more ballsy and will harass a calf or downed momma to the point of exhaustion at times.