But you certainly have to give them credit for their creative approach to the transfer.
- Occasionally I rerun a favorite older post. I published this one five years ago and until last night I hadn’t seen it since then but I enjoyed the playback so I thought others might also. For this version I’ve rewritten much of the text, tweaked the formatting, changed the title and removed an addendum that didn’t seem appropriate for this repost.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is one of two young Swainson’s Hawks I photographed in late summer of 2015 near Monida, Montana. Both siblings could fly but they weren’t yet hunting on their own so they would wait on a variety of nearby perches for their parents to bring them voles. The wait was often a long one so in the interim this youngster felt the need for a wing stretch.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
It stretched twice without completely folding its wings in-between and toward the end of the second stretch it spotted a parent coming in with a vole while it was still far across the valley. This is their typical reaction to food – screaming.
The other sibling had an apparent broken upper leg and it was perched some distance away but it typically only took a few moments for both of them to fly in and compete for the meal so the reaction of both young birds to food could be pretty intense. The injured bird could still fly and compete for food.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is the parent bringing in the vole. When I crop tightly on the vole I can see a catch light in both of its eyes so I’m pretty sure it was still alive at this point.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The adult passed the juvenile on the fence post and landed with the vole on the next post to my right where it…
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
immediately killed the vole with a bite to the back of the neck.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
At this point the youngster on the post behind the adult was already in flight to come in and claim the vole.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Knowing that the juveniles were still awkward and clumsy in flight (and landing) the adult pinned the vole to the top of the post for as long as possible…
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
before taking off at the last second and leaving the vole behind. As the juvenile landed it made an attempt at snagging the vole with one of its talons but…
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
instead it knocked the vole off the post so it fell to the ground.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The young bird knew exactly where it landed…
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
and dived straight down to retrieve it.
At this point I lost focus on the juvenile in the tall grasses at the base of the post but it was obvious that it enjoyed the meal. I deleted all images after this one and I can’t remember if the injured youngster came in to compete for this vole or not.
Readers should know that I attempted to capture the injured hawk with the intention of taking it to rehab in Bozeman but it was very capable of flight and it refused to allow me a close approach.
Ron
Note: To be honest I’m unsure if the prey was a vole or a mouse. It had a short tail like a vole but a light belly like a mouse.
Great photos, Ron. I’m not good at showing photos of injured birds.
Your series is so inviting. Thank you for sharing it.
Two great series, Ron! I followed your linky-link — WOW and OUCH!
Today’s post reminds me of playing catch with my dad and the look on his face — and mine — when he’d throw the football/baseball/softball right to me and I’d butterfinger it. 🤪
I’d like to think that the injured juvenile, if it didn’t make it, ended up as nourishment for another raptor.
Marty, that injured bird showed spunk but I think its long term survival chances were next to none. I hope when the end came it was quick.
I learn so much so enjoyably with your pictures and script! thank you! which picture shows the injured hawk?
Thanks, Shar. None of these photos show the injured hawk.
Wow. Capital WOW. With sadness for the youngster who was unlikely to survive, and awe and delight at the series.
Thank you, EC. That youngster was a sad case. Wish I could have done something.
Of course. And you tried.
Very nice series! Have you given up excursions in your new rig and trailer?
April, I gave up camping for the summer because of the pandemic and the resulting extra human activity in the out of doors – that combined with my bad back. But my back’s been a little better and the height of the camping season should be over this weekend so camping trips are on the agenda again.
In fact I’ve been working on the camping trailer today.
Photo journalism at its best. Well worth repeating. Every fence post should have a platform on top.
Thanks very much, Lyle.
This series is fantastic — and while I love the first two images of the young hawk stretching and screaming, that 7th shot of adult watching approaching juvie is my favorite. All the elements — parent’s beautifully outstretched wings, youngster’s outstretched talons and tail, beautiful background — are simply wonderful. That’s a photo I’d love to have hanging in my house! 😍
That one’s probably my favorite of the bunch too, Chris.
I really laughed at the shot of the youngster looking down like “dang it!”
Good!
This is a spectacular series! Can’t even pick out a fav!
Would love to see photos of a Swainson chasing grasshoppers …
Jamila, It would take me a long time to find my photos of them chasing grasshoppers on the ground but here’s some photos of one doing a face plant while attempting to capture grasshoppers.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/09/28/swainsons-hawk-face-plant-into-rabbitbrush/
My goodness, what extremes to go through for such a tiny tidbit!
Thanks for the link.
WOW! Wonderful series, Ron! 🙂 I would sure wonder if the hawk with the broken leg “made it” – wonder how THAT happened? I wouldn’t have thought of them hunting on the ground and it would be hilarious watching them after grasshoppers….. 😀 It’s a “grasshopper year” here tho we haven’t had too much trouble in the yard yet. Had to roll up the pickup window driving for the mail the other day to get through them! 😳 95 for Sat. and 46 for Mon.
Judy, I suspect that injured hawk didn’t make it. I see no way it could survive a trip to South America very soon after these photos were taken with a broken leg.
50° temperature variation within two days. Sounds like Montana…
Wow, that’s a great series, Ron! If I saw that rodent in my neck of the woods, I’d think it was a hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus. But I don’t think you have those in your area.
Thanks, David. No, I don’t think they’re found in that area.
Wow, the life of a vole. Excellent series showing how the Swainsons feed their young. I was taking photos of one earlier this year and didn’t know that they foraged on the ground. I got a good take off shot of one and then lost it. I was looking all over, but then gave up and continued on my way when I suddenly saw it on the ground and then started taking more photos. When I got home I looked them up and read about their habits.
“didn’t know that they foraged on the ground”
Everett, it’s hilarious to watch them chasing grasshoppers on the ground as they run awkwardly through the tall grass.