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58 GUIDE TO YELLOW SPR INGS | 2021– 2022 plight, on Oct. 3, Congress proclaimed a “Birds of Prey Conservation Week.” Birds of prey are endan- gered because they require large open spaces for their habitats, but open spaces continue to shrink as plains and fields turn into housing developments and shop- ping centers, Beatty says. Although a few raptors, such as the Great Horned Owl, have successfully adjusted to smaller spaces, most of the big birds have not. Conse- quently, such birds as the red-shouldered hawk, the barn owl, the bald eagle and Cooper’s hawk are on the decline in Ohio, Beatty says. The use of pesticides have also affected the raptors’ numbers, Beatty says. Spe- cifically, eagles in Ohio have almost disappeared due to the use of DDT, which con- taminates water and enters the eagle’s system through its diet of fish. The DDT destroys eagles’ capacity to create hard egg shells, caus- ing the premature breakage of eggs. Only six nesting pairs of eagles are now known to live in Ohio, Beatty says. And when the number of eagles — and of other birds of prey diminish, humans lose more than the graceful image of these birds in flight. Raptors contribute to the environmental balance by reg- ulating the rodent and insect populations, Beatty says. Although most people believe that hawks feed on chickens and therefore harm farmers, in reality 95% of a hawk’s diet consists of rodents. Most of the larger animals the birds eat are sick and weak; if not captured by raptors they would spread disease. Educating the public about the value of the raptors and their endangerment is the primary purpose of the Raptor Center, Beatty says. The center began in 1970 when an Outdoor Educa- tion Center worker was given an injured hawk, and a secondary purpose of the center continues to be the rehabilitation of injured raptors. Those birds which cannot survive in the wild are permanently housed at the center. There are routinely 15 to 19 birds in residence there, and they are visited each year by 3,000 grade school children who participate in OEC’s camps or four-day long environmental education program, Beatty says. Led by one of OEC’s 18 graduate student interns, the group of children learn how the rap- tor’s decline affects nature’s balance. Most of the injured birds brought to the center have been felled by hunters’ bullets, Beatty says, although some , like the bald eagle, Solo, were injured when they collided with a high voltage power line. Beatty attends to most of the birds’ injuries with the help of an Enon veterinarian, and puts 40 to 50 birds back into Ohio’s skies each year. The Glen Helen Raptor Center was one of the first of its kind, he says. Although birds of prey refuges are still rare, three centers have been created around the country by former OEC interns: “The birds inspire that kind of respect and love,” Beatty says. Persons concerned about the endangerment of raptors can join an environmental orga- nization which promotes the preservation of natural habi - tats, such as the Sierra Club or the Glen Helen Association, says Beatty, who also urges people to write their Congress- persons to oppose the spraying of harmful pesticides. And, on the local level, Beatty urges concerned per- sons to give financial support to the Raptor Center, which is funded solely by private donations. Specifically, the center needs donations to continue building a new bird cage, to house up to six birds. An anonymous gift of $1,000 enabled the center staff to begin the cage con- struction, but more contri- butions are needed, Beatty says. ♦ Continued from page 57 A Raptor Center representa - tive at a fundraiser for Glen Helen in September, 2021. | PHOTO BY KATHLEEN GALARZA Peifer Orchards & FarmMarket SPecializing in aPPleS, PeacheS, berrieS and PuMPkinS. Our Farm Market offers seasonal locally grown produce, artisan foods and gifts. Family owned and operated since 1994. Open Seasonally, June – december 4590 u.S. 68 n • 937-767-2208 • www.PeiferOrchards.com Eric Espinosa, M.D. Board Certified Urologist spEci al i z ing in • Erectile Dysfunction • Botox & Biofeedback Treatment of Incontinence • Bladder Cancer • Vasectomy • Kidney Stones • Laser Treatment of Prostate • Urolift - Prostate Procedure www.Urologyspecialistsofohio.com 937-342-9260 Offices in Beavercreek, Springfield & Xenia