NeoVista Birds and Wildlife: Falcon

Showing posts with label Falcon. Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2014

A Merlin First for Me: Perching on a Wire

Something I saw on my way home from work today reminded me of a Hawkwatch International blog post I read the other day. The post was cautioning against using "always" and "never" when describing bird appearances and behaviors.

When I was new to birding I wanted to learn how to identify each species I encountered by understanding their shape and plumage. After I had been birding for a while I began to key in on behavior as another consideration for correctly identifying a bird species. One behavior I picked up on very quickly because of my desire to find falcons was that American Kestrels, North America's smallest falcon, regularly perched on power lines that ran along road sides. The similar looking Merlin, a slightly larger and bulkier falcon which moves down from Canada and Alaska into the lower US states and Mexico during winter months seemed to avoid perching on wires. Instead, I always found them perched on posts, poles, buildings, and trees. After several years of birding and having never seen a Merlin perched on a wire I concluded that if a small falcon was seen on a wire it would be a Kestrel. I tested this behavior countless times and even at great distances. It seemed that my "sure fire" way to separate a Merlin from a Kestrel was validated by other birders, including very experienced birders. That was until this afternoon when I observed and photographed a Merlin that was perched on a power line near the entrance to my neighborhood. The wind was blowing quite a bit so the falcon was leaning into the wind as it perched.

My bubble did not burst when I saw a Merlin on a wire. I've been wrong about birds more times than I'll ever remember. I was actually rather excited to see that one of my favorite falcons was more versatile than I had supposed. The image below is one I've grown more accustomed to seeing when I discover a Merlin perched along the road. I'll take a look at a Merlin no matter where it appears, even if it is just a peek over the edge of a tall power pole as I stop my vehicle for a short look from below.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

A 360° View of a Peregrine Falcon With and Without Prey

It was a wintry day in Utah County today--not the best for wildlife photography. It was cold, overcast, and garnished with mixes of light rain and snow. It was not looking good for my planned raptor outing when I left home this morning. However, birds still need to eat so I set out with hopes of discovering new raptors in areas close to home. I drove to a few local fields and didn't see much more than the ubiquitous Red-tailed Hawks and one Prairie Merlin.

On my way home, however, I made a last minute decision to take a side road from Lehi's Main Street over to Pioneer Crossing. The road is called Mill Pond Road because it runs by Mill Pond. The pond is situated between I-15 and the Pioneer Crossing/American Fork Main Street off ramp. I was ecstatic to see an adult Peregrine Falcon (Anatum subspecies) perched on a power pole. It was feasting on what appeared to be the fresh remains of a pigeon or dove. The falcon was content and allowed me to photograph it from multiple vantage points. I remained inside my truck and used it as a mobile blind. The area was under construction so I eventually drove a complete circle around the bird over a fifteen minute period.

The crop was already quite full when I captured this first image. You can see the bulging feathers on the chest. The pinkish wash of the underside of the falcon is characteristic of the Anatum subspecies of Peregrine Falcons. This subspecies remains in Utah year round. Many of these falcons remain around their nesting areas without migrating like many other birds.

Peregrine Falcon With Prey in Lehi, UT

Waterfowl, pigeons, doves, and other birds are staples in the diet of Peregrine Falcons. These falcons can reach speeds close to 200 miles an hour when they stoop to catch prey midair. It would have been interesting to see how this falcon captured its prey prior to taking it to the top of the pole. You can see blood on the bill and talons of the falcon. As the images progress you'll notice both the bill and the talons become free of the remains until there is no sign of the meal other than the enlarged crop.

Peregrine Falcon With Prey in Lehi, UT

The falcon actually dropped the prey after I had been watching it for about ten minutes. It fell to the ground where I had a clear view.

Remains Dropped by a Peregrine Falcon in Lehi, UT

The falcon looked like it might drop to the ground for a moment to retrieve the prey, but it chose to stay on its perch and clean up the scraps that remained at the top of the pole.

Peregrine Falcon Looking Down Toward Prey it Dropped in Lehi, UT

Peregrine Falcon Lehi, UT

The falcon rubbed its talons to remove some feathers and other remains.

Peregrine Falcon Lehi, UT

The falcon commenced with the finishing touches of the clean up process by picking a few remaining feathers from its talons. This falcon seemed rather meticulous about cleaning up and then fluffing its feathers before it departed from its temporary perch.

Peregrine Falcon Preening After Eating Prey in Lehi, UT

Peregrine Falcon in Lehi, UT

Peregrine Falcon With Full Crop in Lehi, UT

Peregrine Falcon in Lehi, UT

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Taiga Merlin: Series of Preening (Yoga?) Images

I've happened upon some choice birding experiences recently as a result of deciding to veer slightly from my typical driving routes. Friday, for example, I was almost home when I decided to take a short half-mile detour that took me between our local high school and one of my favorite little quick-fix birding parks. I was delighted and disappointed at the same time when I spotted a Taiga Merlin perched in a lone tree right beside the road--delighted to be so close to a Merlin, disappointed that I left my camera at home earlier that day after wondering if I should take it.

Merlin's are in the falcon family of raptors and come down to Utah from the far reaches of Canada during our winter months. It may not sound very nice, but Merlin's are essentially bird-eating birds with amazing speed and agility in flight. I observed Friday's bird for a few minutes without the aid of my usual optical tools and then took a picture using my phone camera. The resulting image did not do justice to what I was watching so I made the decision to drive home, grab my camera, and return to the scene with fingers crossed that it would still be present. About seven minutes later I had my camera in tow and was heading back toward the school. I began to cast my bird photography spell on the subject. "Be there! Be there! Be there!" And...it was there!

I spent about 20 minutes photographing the Merlin while it stretched, shrugged, rotated, contorted, reached, plucked, and fanned various parts of its compact yet powerful little body. The Merlin looked down at me in a curious manner several times throughout it preening session. What a fascinating experience!

The talons that are capable of taking birds nearly twice its size in a mid-air attack and the bill that is capable of shredding its prey, are used in a more delicate manner as they gently separate and condition very supple feathers. I watched as it balanced on one leg while using the other to complete a tail fan and a wing stretch. Some movements and poses reminded me of more human moments. I'll forgo including the funny human thoughts that crossed my mind and let you approach these images with your own perspective. Feel free to share some of your human impressions of the bird's actions in the comments at the bottom of this post.

Ready? Begin!

Taiga Merlin at Highland Glen Park in Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

One leg for standing and one leg to aid in the stretching process.

Taiga Merlin at Highland Glen Park in Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Sorry, but I have to interject something here. That bill can shred meat. Look how gently it preens that tail feather. Click here if you want to read how various birds preen and why.

Taiga Merlin at Highland Glen Park in Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Sorry to interject again, but there is something really fascinating in how that fierce bill and deadly talon come together in a very gentle and calculated way.

Taiga Merlin at Highland Glen Park in Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)