Why do birds of prey have such an exalted place in our consciousness?

[El-Presidente]

This thread was inspired by sg1008. What is it about raptors that inspire the human mind? The eagle for example is on the coat of arms of Russia, Poland, Germany and the USA to name just a selection. Birds of prey feature heavily in mythology, for example the Roc of Persian legend. Falconry is practiced across Eurasia. Why do these avians inspire us so?

[Jack]

Meat eating birds are bad ass, except for the vultures; they're freaky.

[El-Presidente]

Meat eating birds are bad ass, except for the vultures; they're freaky.

Vultures are kittens compared to marabou storks, those fuckers are just pure evil in bird form.

[Parts]

Because they are just so fucking cool

They are powerful and majestic in flight and when they attack their prey which is something that you can watch readily unlike many other animals that are at the top of the food chain. 

["couldbecousin"]

     I saw  "Why do birds"  and I had to post this. 

[El-Presidente]

     I saw  "Why do birds"  and I had to post this. 

 

["couldbecousin"]

     I saw  "Why do birds"  and I had to post this. 

 

  That's me! I really look like that!

[Al Swearegen]

Grace in the air and deadly efficiency and speed when targetting its victim.

[Lestat]

And they make for really stylish pets too.

I've done some falconry, not my own birds, but I've flown various hawks and owls before, it was very enjoyable.

Used to have a pet rook/raven myself, that I rescued. Poor thing had gotten blasted out of its nest with a shotgun, and I had to take out the pellets and handfeed/water it until it regained its health.

[Parts]

They have the added bonus of being really tasty too

[P7PSP]

I do like seeing Hawks and Golden Eagles going about their business. Harbor Seals are my favorite animal though.

[Icequeen]

Hawks are awesome.

I sit outside and watch them quite a bit, seems to be alot of them around here now...maybe too many any more. Some days there are 4 of them riding the current overhead.

Friend's "rat dog" got attacked running through the field on his farm. Probably took it for a rabbit.

[ZEGH8578]

Birds impress us for many reasons. First of all, many of the similarities between bird and human are disguised by their anatomy. Humans recognize things very superficially. As much as birds have arms, hands, and even fingers - to this day birds have 3 fingers, where 2 are fused - most humans won't even see arms. A layman will "correct" you, "nono, birds lack arms. Instead they have wings"
People are very superficial, and on the superfice birds seem very alien to us.
Birds that are badass, just emphasize this.

["couldbecousin"]

Grace in the air and deadly efficiency and speed when targetting its victim.

  And power.  I watched a hawk take off into the air once, and I swear I saw muscles flexing
  in his neck and shoulders.  He made the sparrows and other birds look like flimsy little twits! 

["couldbecousin"]

  My father used to point out hawks to me when he saw them circling overhead.  When I see that silhouette
   in the sky these days, I think of him.  He was a bit of a bird-watcher, as I was for awhile in childhood.