I had a productive morning on Antelope Island yesterday, including seeing, hearing and/or photographing multiple bird species for the first time this year. But one of my most memorable experiences was an encounter with an old feathered friend.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I found this male American Kestrel on the roof of one of the pavilions. I immediately suspected that he was “AOM”, because he was perched on the roof of the same pavilion I found him on twice earlier this year.
I call him AOM because those are the identifying letters on the large green band on his left leg. HawkWatch International banded him as a nestling in a nestbox on the island back in June of 2021. I know that because Jesse Watson of HWI provided me with his history when I reported him to HWI, including photos where his green band letters could be read.
However, when I had this bird in my viewfinder yesterday I couldn’t even see his bands, much less read them (which tells you how much this photo has been cropped and maybe how bad my old eyes are). So I only suspected that he was probably AOM. But “suspected” and “probably” don’t cut the mustard when it comes to reporting banded birds so all I could do was hope that I’d be able to tell if he was banded and, if he was, be able to read the band numbers/letters when I zoomed in on the bird when I got home.
This bird did me two favors when he took off.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 640, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
He gave me a closer, better look at his legs which confirmed that he was banded on both legs and he also gave me a pretty nice flight shot, with him in a flight posture that I like very much.
Zooming in on that photo confirmed beyond any doubt that he was AOM.
I’m beginning to have doubts that AOM has found a mate and is nesting this year because this was my fourth sighting of him since January and I haven’t yet seen him associating with a female. But I’m delighted to see him continuing to thrive.
When it comes to nesting, there’s always next year.
Ron
Sensational series Ron!
Thanks for the update on this guy. And that flight shot is just plain beautiful!
Glad you like it, Bill. I’m pretty fond of it myself.
Nice images and good to hear Antelope Island has wildlife again!
It was pretty good out there yesteday, April. For the first time in a very long time. Couldn’t find a Sage Thrasher like you did though.
Great shots, as usual, and thought you might be interested to know that Kestrels are included in this Wikipedia list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_displaying_homosexual_behavior
Just saying…
Well, I guess there are other options for him, Burrdoo!
Wonderful, wonderful news. Something we all need a lot more of.
We sure do. Thanks, EC.
Beautiful flight shot.
A few months ago Barbara and I were scouting and area for an upcoming bird trip we were leading. We saw something fall to the ground and a Cooper’s Hawk go into a nearby tree ready to return to the catch what it had dropped if only we would back off. Something was struggling on the ground so we went to see. It was a male American Kestrel and too injured to fly. We took it to Cascades Raptor Center. Afrter an examination they found a tear in one of the flight muscles but something that could heal. A couple of months later it was ready for release and we took it back to the same location. It was great to see it fly off. A few weeks later we returned and found a male Kestrel and also a female in a nearby tree. Given the territory, we believe it’s the same male but have no way to be sure. Just 2 weeks ago Barbara led another group there and they watched the pair mating and the female go into an old flicker hole. A very satisfying outcome.
What a wonderful and uplifting story, Dan. Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us. You and Barbara, the kestrel and CRC – kudos to the bunch of you. I know Louise is retired but I’ll bet she’d enjoy hearing that story.
Dan, so glad you and Barbara were there!💜
He is too handsome to have not found a mate. If I were a lady kestrel… 😉 I agree with Michael about both the takeoff shot and the background. The background is human-made, but doesn’t look obnoxiously so because of the colors, materials, and weathering — the bird really shines.
“He is too handsome to have not found a mate.”
Leave it to you to say that so well, Marty. I had a similar thought but you put it into words. Good ones too.
Thank you, Ron.
He is looking right at you Ron and saying, “Ok Ron, I know you want to show your fans what a great photographer you are and want them to see the AOM band, so here it is, just as you requested.” 🙂 🙂
The little guy that I banded a few years ago that I showed you died not long after the banding. Unknown to Game and Fish at the time, it was carrying a disease that they were unaware of.
Thanks, Everett. Sorry about your kestrel. That sounds like an unusual situation.
He IS a beauty! Always fun to be able to capture a repeat performer particularly in smaller birds that are harder to identify that way. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. He’s a looker isn’t he.
What a beautiful individual– and what a lovely shot of him,
backdrop notwithstanding . Hard to believe that he hasn’t yet found a mate– maybe he’s as picky about females as you are about backdrops…….
Kris, your last sentence made me smile.
I’m not sure he hasn’t found a mate, I just haven’t seen him with one. Perhaps she’s in the nest caring for youngsters…
Thanks for the happy news. So nice to see he’s still thriving. He looks in excellent shape.
That second photo is gorgeous, in particular the way you caught that extended left wing.
Thanks, Michael. His posture in that flight shot is one of the better ones I’ve ever captured of a kestrel. I just wish the setting was more attractive.
You know, I was so transfixed on the bird that I did not give the background any mind at all.