This young female Prairie Falcon had just claimed her prize after a successful and well-planned hunt.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4tc, not baited, set up or called in
She had ambushed the Northern Shoveler out on the water where it died and she then waited for it to drift into shore before claiming it. Here she was glaring defiantly at the occasional traffic on the Antelope Island causeway road as she apparently tried to decide whether or not she could endure the commotion as she fed on the duck. Soon after this shot was taken she dragged it up onto the rocks and away from the water before consuming it. The prey was heavy and she had a difficult time getting it up there but she was determined and eventually successful.
My encounter with this beautiful falcon in winter of 2012 was one of the most memorable of my bird photography career. I was able to document the entire incident, from the kill out on the water through the consumption of the duck on the shore. I’ve posted other images of this bird but this one is new to my blog. Many of the feeding images were graphic and gruesome but I thought this one was pretty innocuous.
If you’re relatively new to my blog and have the interest I’ve documented the entire encounter here.
Ron
Yes, thanks…It is the series I saw and wondered if it was deliberate strategy… or patience and opportunism….it’s just as amazing the second time!!!
That was the most fantastic series I have ever seen! Thank you for sharing the earlier post. Maybe you said and I missed it, but about how long did it take the falcon from kill to dinner time?
I learn SO much from your posts!!
“about how long did it take the falcon from kill to dinner time?”
Jane, In order to answer your question I just went back and looked at the entire series.
11:24 – the duck was killed out on the water
11:32 – the duck finally washed ashore
11:43 – the falcon claimed the duck (she was extremely cautious and slow about finally going to it)
11:47 – she began her meal in earnest after dragging it away from the water
I remember, and loved this series.
An amazing ‘don’t mess with me’ look she is rocking in that first image.
And yes, having a bird brain is something rather a lot of humans of my acquaintance could usefully aspire to…
“having a bird brain is something rather a lot of humans of my acquaintance could usefully aspire to…”
Well said, EC.
Ron, thank you again for an education. I watched the series & once again I’m so impressed with both the intelligentsia of the birds & ur ability to capture the stories of Mother Nature
David
Thanks very much, David.
Beautiful shot. She looks very possessive of her haul. I went back and looked at the prior series with her (since it was before I found your blog), and that also included some amazing shots. The one I like best is the face on with wings spread. Just spectacular. There was a point several years ago when we had a Prairie Falcon hanging around our neighborhood. My husband saw it kill a Great-tailed Grackle on the neighbor’s roof. I feel very fortunate whenever I get to watch raptors.
Thanks, Susan. And yes, she was possessive and for good reason. Bald Eagles along the causeway occasionally steal prey from falcons (I’ve seen them do it) so they keep a watchful eye out.
What a wonderful shot Ron! I am curious how you you know that it was the same falcon you documented in ’12?
Charlotte
Charlotte, I know it’s the same bird because this image (in this post) was taken at the same time, of the same bird, as the images in my linked post.
I think that is the best sequence I have ever seen. All Falcons are amazing and the more we learn, the more amazing these critters get! Thanks so much…Jer
I’m delighted that you liked it so much, Jerry. Thank you.
Dick Harlow (and others), having been a falconer for 21 years now, I can say with absolute certainty that birds of prey have significant intelligence in terms of problem solving, extrapolating knowledge from both failure and success to apply to future situations, long-term memory that includes identifying specific individuals (humans, dogs, etc.) and all sorts of instantaneous mathematical calculations in flight, prey capture, odds of success, etc. And that intelligence often operates faster than the speed of light. For those who think they’re dumber than a box of rocks (and there are those who do), my reply is you’re so not paying attention to the level that the dumber than a box of rocks description is far more applicable to the lack of intelligence exhibited in that comment!!
Consider also the intelligence of their prey who evade capture to live another day.
The idea that humans are the be all and end all of life on this spinning rock (Earth) is SO ridiculous as to be insane in my opinion. We humans would be far better off if we jettisoned our arrogance, developed a little humility and learned a few things from other species instead of judging a fish’s intelligence on its ability to climb a tree. Just my opinion.
And Ron, you just ROCK!
Laura, I Loved your post & have a question for you – do you know why the falcons don’t eat the digestive track of the duck?? Also wondering if they eat any bones like the bald eagle does. I’m another person who feels that some human egos don’t give other creatures on our planet the credit they deserve – not only in terms of intelligence but also emotions. Thank God more & more scientific studies are proving the animals are by far more like us than some people want to admit!!
Laura, Anyone who watched (and paid attention to) what I saw this bird do with its hunting strategy would have to admit to their intelligence. It obviously wasn’t innate behavior so what else could it be – it had learned what worked from past experience. Thank you very much for your insight and for the compliment!
Love your comment Laura! I’m with you on the getting rid of the arrogance and gaining humility. Not only do we need to apply that to other species on the planet, but also to cultures other than our own. My husband and I travel a lot, and one of the really enjoyable aspects of it is getting to know people from other cultures and seeing all the good aspects of their cultures. It is majorly eye-opening.
This was a fantastic series! I wasn’t on board in 2012 when you showed this series for the first time so I am delighted that you allowed us newbies to see the whole series. I didn’t read all the other comments, but did read your comments – and anyone who doesn’t believe birds of prey can “think out” a prey situation is not looking at the facts. All one has to do is look at the size and weight of a shoveler, compared to the size and weight of the falcon to be highly impressed at the thought process that had to go into the hunt, the strategy for the kill, and allowing for the prevailing wind and waves at that time to wash the duck ashore. AMAZING, AWESOME. There was a ton of experience in that falcons brain that led up to this sequence, what a marvel. Also, I would bet he/she was very hungry and needed that kill, and no matter what commotion was going on was going to consume as much as it could. Love that you showed how personal and protective the falcon was in flying over its prey until it washed ashore and could deal with it on land. Just a wonderful set, many thanks for sharing this series.
Enjoyed your post, Dick!! You described the flow of the hunt thru the consumption much better than I could!!
I enjoyed your comments too, Dick. Loved your enthusiasm. And yes, she was very hungry – she gorged herself on that duck but when clouds eventually came in and I lost the light I left and let her finish her gluttony in peace.
The “britches”,as Ellie Baby calls them, are especially beautiful on this bird…and i love the water, too…a wonderful image…
Thanks, Patty.
I missed the first “series” of this hunt…is there a link?
Patty, Click the word “here”, the last word in my post. But here’s another alternative:
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2012/11/11/an-incredible-experience-with-a-prairie-falcon-and-a-hapless-duck/
Beautiful!:) – original post was also fantastic – wonder why they take the neck first?
“wonder why they take the neck first?”
I don’t know, Judy. And it may not have been typical behavior for the species. They have to start somewhere…
I wondered as that’s what a hawk/falcon did with a chicken of mine this summer…………
What a spectacular series, Ron! I am especially struck by the documentation if the duck being dragged. I like to imagine you working to capture that flurry of predation, too, elated, frustrated, and everything in between! Congratulations.
“elated, frustrated, and everything in between”
Exactly, Alison. I was shooting with my old 7D and didn’t have the burst rate I would have liked. Wonder what I missed?…
That is one BIG duck dinner for a young bird to provide for itself!!! A VERY Impressive accomplishment. Glad it got to consume it without having some opportunistic competitor stealing it…a beautiful.beautiful bird….
You’re right, Patty – a shoveler is big prey for this species. I think it knew that it wouldn’t be able to snatch the duck out of the water and fly with it – that’s why it waited until it washed ashore.
Ron – thanks for the reminder of this bird. I have never forgotten your original post of this incident. I have brought it up on a number of occasions when birding with friends on seeing a Prairie Falcon.
Mark
Thanks, Mark. I won’t soon forget it either…