I have more difficulty approaching Prairie Falcons than I do most other raptor species so when I can get close to one it’s always a memorable experience.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two summers ago I found this juvenile male hunting grasshoppers in Montana’s Centennial Valley. Here he’s already spotted a grasshopper about 6 inches in front of him but he paused and looked at me for a moment before he plucked it out of the grass and then ate it on the spot.
Though you can’t see them here this bird was banded with two bands – one on each leg. I was able to read some of the numbers on the bands and eventually traced some of the history of the bird. Thanks to the efforts of my friend Mike Shaw of Hawkwatch International I was able to contact the bander of this falcon – Doug Bell, Wildlife Program Manager for East Bay Regional Park District out of Oakland, California. Doug sent me some photos if this bird and its siblings taken during the banding process and filled me in a little on its history.
Long time followers of my blog likely remember the story but relative newcomers may be interested in visiting my original post that includes photos of the falcon chicks in the nest and more background. This bird was banded as a 24 day old nestling just east of San Francisco and 38 days later I found it in the wilds of the Centennial Valley in Montana.
Knowing the background story on this falcon makes each and every image I have of him so very meaningful for me. I sometimes look into his eyes (in the images) and wonder what he saw and experienced during that trip to Montana as such a very young bird. And I so hope he’s still thriving out there somewhere, making life a challenge for every grasshopper he encounters.
Ron
Gorgeous bird! I, too, hope he’s thriving somewhere.
Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and new year.
Yes, I remember and it’s wonderful story for the season. Merry Everything to everybody!
Interesting and touching story Ron. Great shot, wonderful looks.
For several weeks in November and December here in Vermont, a short distance from where I live, a Prairie Falcon was observed and pictures were taken to verify that it was the second record for Vermont. Absolutely beautiful bird. Alas, it has not been seen recently, probably went further south when the snow storm hit us.
Many thanks for sharing.
Also, hope you and Mia have a great Christmas and holiday!
Such an intense gaze.
I am joining you in hoping that he is still death on grasshoppers. Many, many grasshoppers.
It is Christmas Eve here, and the day is drawing to a close. Happy Christmas Ron, and may all your birds make eye contact, from natural perches in an unclipped state in 2015.
What a wonderful shot Ron! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Charlotte
Thank you Ron. I don’t always support banding, but it is wonderful to spot a bird, and know it is doing well etc. I hope you find this Falcon again. Beautiful picture as usual!
I don’t always support banding either, Jean – probably for some of the same reasons as you…
What a story! That would make a wonderful book. THANKS.
A relatively short but interesting one, Karen – at least for bird aficionados. Someone else would have to write it though. I can’t even keep up with my blog writing…
Reading the stories of not only the tough, “irascible” survivors in the natural world, but also being reminded, quite specifically, of the small legion of humans who have dedicated their lives to understanding
and supporting the environmental welfare of those survivors gives me the great gift of hope for the future . Thanks for that gift, today , Ron !
Kris, the “great gift of hope” is something we all need, for ourselves and for the birds and everything else in the natural world. I know personally some of those folks in that “small legion” and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.