Yesterday’s post of the Barn Owl with a mouse (instead of a vole) reminded me of this American Kestrel with another mouse, also at Farmington WMA. I’m wondering if mice have now largely replaced microtine voles at Farmington and if that’s not a harbinger of even worse things to come.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This male kestrel landed very close to me on a bent sunflower stem with its rodent prey. The mouse was still alive and apparently not seriously injured, though it had mostly ceased struggling and seemed resigned to its fate. If you look closely you’ll even see light in its eye. Immediately after this shot the kestrel took off in the direction it’s looking, landed again and administered the coup de grâce to the mouse.
The more I think about it (and review my images) the more I suspect that mice are replacing voles in a (un?) natural succession around Farmington Bay WMA. The encroachment of suburbia is threatening to swallow up the place and where you have people living you tend to have more mice and fewer voles.
The recently proposed West Davis Highway may be the death knell for Farmington Bay WMA and healthy bird populations on a large portion of the central east shore of the Great Salt Lake. It’s impact on birds and other wildlife would be staggering and conservation groups oppose it vigorously. Here’s what the Friends of the Great Salt Lake had to say about it:
“The proposal is a high-speed truck and car corridor paving over farmland, wetlands and homes that will become little more than a road to sprawling gas stations, big-box stores and new auto dependent homes.”
More here and here if you’re interested.
Ron
Argh! Teeth gnashing… we’ve already ruined so much… how do we explain the dearth of species to our ancestors to come?
Since birds(and other wildlife) migrate, and as such, they “belong” to us all, not to any one area , or “authority”, and since this “development” would risk jeopardizing many migratory species that do NOT “belong” solely to the would be developer/destroyers, they really have no ethical right to proceed…I’m not sure it’s even legal. In dollars and cents, they might be jeopardizing a unique resident and tourist draw. especially wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. It looks like another case of shooting ones self in the foot…and for what???
Let’s hope things will turn out not that bad, but ……. Anyway, just a short note letting you know I like your posts as always ! Cheers, from a ‘warm’ Holland (feels like Spring here..), Hans
I hope you’ll keep us informed … even on the other end of the country, these decisions have repercussions … not only for the lovely, free-flying, migrating wildlife, but to earth bound individuals such as myself who live vicariously through the great photographic art of artists such as yourself.
How depressing re “progress” – man won’t be happy till the world is concrete it seems. The Kestral is beautiful. I hope that cold event that we’re hearing about hasn’t affected you and the birds too much.
Interesting post Ron. I wonder if the mouse population is replacing the natural microtines of the area. A worthy thought to consider, along with it’s potential impacts.
I think that the Wasatch Front is destined down a road of degradation. A sobering thought. There are too many issues in that valley, with air quality and the urban sprawl. It makes me sad for my home.
Beautiful image nonetheless.
The “dictionary companions” as I call them – destruction and development.All driven by greed.
Your kestrel, by the way, is a beautiful picture. Must go – trying to get a (better than usual) picture of a koel…
Isn’t “progress” grand, Patty?
Endlessly enjoying your photos! Thank you and thanks for the insights on behavior and ecological context. Wonderful stuff 🙂
Thank you, Nala.
For what it’s worth, Patty, I enjoyed your rant. Having lived in some relatively under-developed places with stunning natural beauty, and watching development harm both human and natural life cycles, I feel your pain. Appreciating land and ocean conservation efforts more and more each day. Here’s to less paving and more paradise.
I apologize for unloading like that…just ignore or delete it.
Testing one, two, three. I am (again) not getting the email to activate follow-up comments. Sigh.
PS: Sorry, I got sidetracked by one of my bandwagons. I love the kestrel. Which puts me firmly back on the soap box. NO Highway. Please.
I do hope the brakes are applied rather than tapped. World-wide we loose too much to ‘convenience’ and profit. Which this tree hugging leftie thinks is wrong.
Our recently elected Government has promised to remove the ‘green tape’ which hinders business development. Which terrifies me. And, as a corollary, they look to be giving the go ahead to depositing mining waste in the ocean near the Great Barrie Reef, saying that the water quality will improve. Which I very much doubt.
Sounds like you have some of the same issues we do, Elephant’s Child. I shouldn’t be surprised…
The late “great” Robert Moses wanted to do that to Fire Island, which is so narrow in most places all there would have been was the 4 lane highway he fought so hard for…the dunes would be destroyed in his attempt to “make them accessible to “the public”. Formerly accessible only by boat, he did manage to ram through a bridge to the western tip (closest to Manhattan) and develop a public park there…with the obligatory sea of asphalt for parking, litter, etc. that comes with such “development” (destruction)..fortunately, there are no other roads…walking, travel by boat or bicycle are still the way to go, how to get around or from one small town to the other…the Sunken Forest has not been bisected by a ribbon of concrete…the air remains pure, the animals (two-legged and four) remain safe.
Interesting info about Fire Island, Patty. I’m glad it turned out as well as it did, at least for now…
I’m sick…
I will be too, Patty – if they choose this route for the highway.
Awwww Ron … I’ve seen so much change where I am … I truly hope your beautiful Farmington Bay area can withstand the onslaught of “progress” …
I hope it can too, Lois. The decision on the highway could still go either way.