The Challenges Of Photographing Falcons On Antelope Island

There are three species of Falcons that reside on Antelope Island through much of the year – the American Kestrel, Prairie Falcon and Peregrine Falcon.  A fourth, the Merlin, is mostly a winter resident.  For many of us there’s something almost mystical about falcons and most bird photographers I know ache to get quality shots of them.  But doing so isn’t easy anywhere and Antelope Island is no exception.

In my experience there are three reasons why falcons on the island are so difficult to photograph well:

1. The falcons are there but, with the exception of the kestrel, they’re difficult to find.  For most of the year Peregrines and Prairies hang out in the remotest parts of the island that are inaccessible to us due to park rules and difficulties of negotiating such steep terrain.  However, all three species hunt the causeway during winter so that’s the best chance for the photographer.
2. Generally you just can’t get close to them.  Kestrels are notorious for that trait, probably because they’re so common that lots of folks try with them.  But common certainly doesn’t mean approachable.  It’s not unusual to see a Peregrine perched far out on the mud flats but there’s no way to get close and if you tried they’d fly off.   Prairie Falcons can often be spotted high up on the rocks around the central part of the island but they’re invariably much too far away and seldom perch near the road.
3. Peregrines and Prairies are much easier to approach in very low light, especially just before sunup.  But low light makes for crappy images.

I’ve included photos in this post that I think are strong images and some that are relatively weak, in order to illustrate some of the issues I’ve mentioned above.

 

1/500, f/4.5, ISO 640, 500 f/4, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

This is the bird that got me thinking about Falcons on the island.  I got very close to this Prairie Falcon along the causeway yesterday morning but the only reason it let me get so close was that it was in deep shade, which seems to make them feel much more secure.  I worked with the image as best I could to try to compensate for the poor light.  I like the shot and I’m happy to have it but it would be a stronger image if I’d had better light.

 

  1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

Our best chance is with kestrels, if for no other reason than the fact that there’s so many of them.  I had pretty good light on this one and it only let me get close because it was January and very cold.

 

 

  1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

 The light on this male kestrel was mediocre and you’re about to see why…

 

 

 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

This is an extreme crop of the previous image.  If you look closely at the catch light in the eye you can see the reflection of the horizon line and the sun trying mightily to shine through a very distinct cloud.  That cloud foiled my attempt at a better shot.

 

 

 1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

I mentioned earlier that it’s not unusual to see a Peregrine perched out on the mud flats.  This shot is an example of that (though recent rains had left some water there).  The bird was too far away (though closer than usual) and on a particularly ugly perch (at least it was a whitewall tire…)

 

 

 1/250, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

My few close encounters with a Peregrine have been in deep shade or poor light.   That light, and the fact that it was reluctant to leave its breakfast of duck, were why this bird allowed such a close approach.

 

 

 1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

I’ve had better luck with Prairie Falcons on the island.  This juvenile originally allowed me to get close because it was in the shadow of a road as the sun came up.  But after a while it seemed to accept my presence and then sort of forgot to fly off when the light hit it.  This shot was taken during the few seconds the bird was lit but the rock perch was still in shade.

 

 

 1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4,  natural light, not baited, set up or called in

I’ve posted this shot once before but it fits the topic.  This Prairie Falcon was feeding on its Shoveler kill when two ravens began to harass it, so it took off with the duck to escape the potential food thieves.  But it didn’t get very far before an adult Bald Eagle swooped in and forced the falcon to drop the duck on the ice.  The eagle dropped down on the duck and flew off with it.

Ohhh, do I ever wish I’d been in position to photograph the confrontation between the falcon and the eagle!

So, the point of all this – if you want to photograph falcons on the island, go early, go when it’s very cold, expect to get skunked most of the time and bring lady luck with you.  Without a doubt, you’ll need her!

Ron