Chances of photographic success with this hawk when it took off were low but I aimed my lens in its direction anyway.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I found this adult Red-tailed Hawk yesterday morning in the Promontory Mountains of northern Utah. Another red-tail had been perched with it as I approached in my pickup but when that bird took off this one stuck. I always enjoy the way the red tail of the adults matches the color of the predominant lichens on these cliffs.
In my effort to photograph this hawk I had several factors working against me:
- I wasn’t particularly close to the bird. I’d need a full wingspread during and after takeoff to mostly fill the frame.
- The hawk was facing away from me and likely to take off in that direction. I don’t need any more butt shots.
- The bird was mostly side-lit so even if it did turn to my left when it took off I’d be lucky to get any light on its face with the light coming from behind.
- Unless it dropped down fairly quickly after takeoff I’d have only blue sky behind the bird. I generally prefer more interesting backgrounds.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
But occasionally things work out in situations like this so it can be worth taking the chance. The hawk actually did take off to my left and at just the right angle to occasionally give me light on its face. And it dropped down fairly quickly so I was able to get some other cliffs in the background.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Only these two shots worked out but I was happy to get them. In most of the others the left wing shaded the face, or its nictitating membrane was closed, or there was no light in the eye, or I clipped a wing or… you know the drill.
On a completely unrelated note:
Regular readers will remember the juvenile Short-eared Owl I cut out of this fence back in June. I had to cut the second wire from top to rescue the bird without causing any more damage to its wing. I left my contact information with two neighbors of the fence-owner and said that I’d pay for the fence repair if necessary. That was clear back on June 19th and yesterday I checked on the fence since I was in the area. As you can see it still hasn’t been repaired.
Back then I mentioned to readers that I had set aside some cash in a “fence repair fund” in case I was asked to pay for the repair and if it didn’t come to that I’d donate the money to the rehab folks who took in the owl. So, on the assumption that I won’t be hearing from the fence-owners I recently donated that fence repair fund to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah (WRCNU).
I only mention that fact to let you know I followed through and to give a plug to rehab organizations, including WRCNU. It’s my belief that all wildlife injured because of man deserves every chance at rehabilitation and WRCNU does an amazing job of doing just that with a dedicated and overworked staff of volunteers (including “our” own April Olson) and extremely limited funds. Rehab organizations and the wildlife they serve deserve our support…
Ron
Love! And I loved the nest post but forgot to say so. The color pick-up is really lovely.
GREAT ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION WITH THE HAWK, DETERMINING THE WING-SPAN, TAKE-OFF DIRECTION, ETC.TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT SHOT. ALSO, GOOD CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHEN TO HELP WILDLIFE OR LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE.I HEAR GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE ANIMAL RESCUE HERE AND IT IS ALWAYS A JOYFUL OCCASION WHEN THE ANIMAL OR BIRD IS RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD.
Thank You for the donation and the good PR. We love both! Sorry I am a bit late to respond. I am back to work after 3 weeks off for the summer (my paid job) the volunteer part continues as I am needed.
I think we may have met the farmer who owns the fence when we had a flat tire out there. He offered to help us when we were waiting for a tow truck.
That was nice of you Ron. Beautiful shots of the Red Tail. I like the look in its eye. No light, but the look of concentration makes for a nice shot.
Thank you, Ron. I work a 40-50 hour week at a job I’m not too crazy about (to be nice about it) so I’ll have the funds necessary to purchase large quantities if frozen mice/rats for the raptors I get in each year. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to try to make right some of what man has done to this planet and then turn to the birds that I love so much. So thank you for mentioning rehabbers – we normally do what we do very quietly and behind the scenes .
Gorgeous photos of the Redtail by the way …
Leslie Jackson
Tulsa, OK
“we normally do what we do very quietly and behind the scenes.”
I know you do, Leslie – that’s typical modus operandi for rehabbers. So since you folks don’t beat your own drums much I figured I’d make up for it a little.
Thanks to the whole lot of you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Leslie…for all the time, money and caring you spend toward your rehabbing efforts…pilamaya, pilamayaye,pilamayayelo, wopila! You are one of my true heroes…..
Ditto!
IF that farmer gets off his butt (and I don’t want a shot of it) and repairs his fence and has the gall to try and charge you add me to the list of people who will gladly contribute. In the interim I am so very glad that your fence fund has gone to a MUCH more deserving cause.
And love the red-tail. I am not averse to bird butts either.
I have all the bird butt shots you could want, EC. Well, I should say HAD, I’ve deleted them…
But, but, but, bird butts are cool as long as that tail doesn’t go up. If it does, look out, especially if we’re talking a well-fed redtail in the morning! Trust me on this! 🙂
great capture of a very, solid -looking healthy bird with nice, intact,easily groomable feathers…glad rehabbers got fence money…fence owner should NOT have gotten an effing penny of it…a bill for rehabbing the owl, maybe, but sure as hell no fence repair money…..
Thanks, Patty. I’m glad WRCNU got the fence fund too.
Those are such beautiful shots of the red tail. Is his right foot just curled in an odd way or does he have something in it?
Thanks, Carol. No, I don’t think there’s anything in that right foot.
Well, you KNOW I’m a fool for redtails so you’ve got me there! LOL! I also love it how redtails blend into their environment–and the colors don’t have to match to make that happen. They often just flat disappear in foliage with their back side plumage that mimics dappled sunshine. Gorgeous photos and interesting to see where that bird is in his/her molt. S/he’s still got a few tattered feathers, which I’m sure will drop soon to be replaced with brand-new ones. I wonder if this individual raised a brood this year?
And thank you for donating your fence fund. Should the fence owners come back at you at a later date, I’m pretty sure your gang of fans could raise that money rapidly for you! 🙂
I’ll echo your words on rehab organizations! They run full speed on fumes (car analogy) and are nearly always dangling at the end of a frayed shoestring, especially this time of year when baby birds get into all sorts of mishaps and troubles. I’d encourage everybody to make a donation to the rehab center of your choice–either your local rehab center OR Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah OR Louise Shimmel’s Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene, Oregon or whichever. They always need your support and every little bit helps! And talk about bang for the buck! I was blessed to work with On The Wing Again in Dallas for over 10 years. I was continually amazed at what we accomplished with the blessings of donations and a multitude of volunteer hours, given freely. There are those who would tell you that rehab doesn’t matter to the overall populations of species, and while that might be true, it certainly matters to the individuals saved.
Laura, I’m a huge fan of both Cascades Raptor center and Louise. One day I’d like to visit them.
Fantastic series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Ron. Thanks from all us who help wild birds injured through no fault of their own. Diana. Red tailed hawk photos showed all his/her feather patterns. Thank you.
And thanks for your efforts in that arena too, Diana!
Great shots of the Red-tail.
Thanks for the update on the fence! Just my opinion, your money is better spent saving the owl and sending it to rehab. I can’t believe that birds or mammals would get as tangled up in non-barbed wire fences and a fence owner should know that fact.
Thanks for sharing.
Dick, to many fence owners entangled wildlife is just a fact of life, collateral damage of sorts. It comes with the territory…
Beautiful shots, Ron. 🙂 Appears the fence is a “round tuit” thing – a bit strange since it appears to be a well maintained fence.
It’s actually a new fence, Judy. I watched them install it early this spring so I’m slightly surprised by the delay in repairing it.
Wonderful shots of the Red-tailed Hawk! I am ashamed to admit that the red tail never registered with me until I read your comment about it matching the lichens… I’m glad you donated your fence repair fund to the rehab group. In my opinion, that’s a much better use of the money, even though putting the money aside to repair the fence was the ethical thing to do.
Susan, the color of the red tail is a little more rusty-red than that of the lichens but they’re close and I always notice it.