Migration bottlenecks at Gibraltar, Bosphorus, and other narrow crossings concentrate raptors making them vulnerable to persecution and hunting pressure.
Raptors concentrating at migration bottlenecks face heightened persecution risk from hunters and collectors. The predictability of migration timing creates vulnerability that has historically led to organized shooting events. Individual raptors that survive shooting attempts may carry wounds that impair hunting ability and survival. Conservation programs that combine monitoring, enforcement, and community engagement are reducing this welfare threat.