Friday, November 29, 2013

Candidates For A Raptor Calendar

After a number of suggestions from friends and family I'm thinking about creating a calendar with some of my favorite raptor images. I'm sharing a sampling of some of my favorites and would like some feedback from you so I can narrow them down. I'm thinking about placing the birds in the months that fit them well in my mind. For example, Bald Eagles, Rough-legged Hawks, and Merlins are more northern (Alaska & Canada) raptors so we tend to see them in the lower US states more during the winter months. Sharp-shinned Hawk nest in higher elevations during spring and summer so they return to lower elevations (and backyards as they prey on birds at feeders) in the fall and winter. American Kestrel rings American and its the most colorful Falcon of North America so why not share it during July when America recognizes it's independence? Here's the line up I'm considering so far.

January: Prairie Falcon
February: Bald Eagle
March: Merlin
April: Golden Eagle
May: Cooper's Hawk
June: Osprey
July: American Kestrel
August: Swainson's Hawk
September: Sharp-shinned Hawk
October: Peregrine Falcon
November: Red-tailed Hawk
December: Ferruginous Hawk

I've included multiple images for each species so please reference the captions and let me know which would best represent a species in a calendar image.

I also love Owls. Should I include owls or would they be considered for their own calendar?

Please share your feedback by commenting at the end of the post or sending me a personal email (jeffcooper7@gmail.com). Thanks for your feedback.

Prairie Falcon Hunkered and Fluffed Up While Braving Freezing Temperatures in Vineyard, UT
Prairie Falcon in Flight in Lehi, UT
Prairie Falcon in Flight Utah County, UT
Prairie Falcon Utah County, UT
Bald Eagle (one) at Lindon Marina in Lindon, UT
Bald Eagle (two) at Lindon Marina in Lindon, UT

Bald Eagle (three) at Lindon Marina in Lindon, UT
Bald Eagle at Farmington Bay WMA Davis County, UT
Bald Eagle Mt Carmel, UT
Bald Eagle Near Panguitch, UT
Merlin Elberta, UT
Merlin Sandy, UT
Merlin (one) Highland, UT
Merlin (two) Highland, UT
Merlin (three) Highland, UT
Merlin (four) Highland, UT
Golden Eagle South Jordan, UT
Golden Eagle Palmyra, UT
Cooper's Hawk (one) Pleasant Grove, UT
Cooper's Hawk (two) Pleasant Grove, UT
Young Cooper's Hawk Pleasant Grove, UT
Cooper's Hawk Huntington Beach, CA
Cooper's Hawk  Utah County, UT
Osprey Utah County, UT
Osprey Carrying Nest Material to Nest in Utah County, UT
Osprey (two) Carrying Nest Material (watching me) to Nest in Utah County, UT
Osprey (three) Carrying Nest Material to Nest in Utah County, UT
Osprey Punta Allen, Mexico
Osprey Provo, UT
American Kestrel (one) at Farmington Bay WMA Davis County, UT
American Kestrel Pleasant Grove, UT
American Kestrel (two) at Farmington Bay WMA Davis County, UT
American Kestrel Pleasant Grove, UT
American Kestrel Lehi, UT
American Kestrel (three) Farmington Bay WMA Davis County, UT
American Kestrel Provo, UT
Swainson's Hawk Springville, UT
Swainson's Hawk Lakeshore, UT
Swainson's Hawk Pleasant Grove, UT
Swainson's Hawk Saratoga Springs, UT
Swainson's Hawk Pleasant Grove, UT
Swainson's Hawk American Fork, UT
Sharp-shinned Hawk Cedar Hills, UT
Sharp-shinned Hawk St George, UT
Sharp-shinned Hawk South Jordan, UT (This one might be a good winter image with the ice crystals on the post)
Sharp-shinned Hawk Pleasant Grove, UT
Peregrine Falcon (one) Lehi, UT
Peregrine Falcon (two) Lehi, UT
Peregrine Falcon South Jordan, UT
Peregrine Falcon (three) Lehi, UT
Intermediate-morph Western Red-tailed Hawk Lehi, UT
Western Red-tailed Hawk Lehi, UT
Ferruginous Hawk Emery County, UT
Ferruginous Hawk (One) Lila Canyon Rd Emery County, UT
Ferruginous Hawk (Two) Lila Canyon Rd Emery County, UT