I suppose it’s redundant to point out a kestrel with moxie – all kestrels have moxie by definition. But this one made that fact unusually obvious.
- Occasionally I recycle an older favorite post because many current viewers have never seen it. This one was published on Feb. 16, 2012 but for this version I’ve reprocessed the image and rewritten most of the text.
There are two small bridges along the primary road into Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. There’s a weather station tower at the second bridge that is an obvious and desirable elevated perch for birds in a landscape almost entirely devoid of trees. But apparently birds on the tower disrupt its proper functioning so two plastic Great Horned Owls have been mounted at the top of the tower in an obvious attempt to scare birds off and keep them from perching there.
The plastic owls are so large and prominent that many of us refer to that bridge as the “owl bridge”.
1/1250, f/10, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 II Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But kestrels don’t give a hoot about those phony owls. In fact they provide a favorite perch for these fearless little falcons. In all my years at Farmington, kestrels are just about the only species I’ve noticed perching on them. I’d wager that virtually all of the “whitewash” dripping down this owl scarecrow belongs to Falco sparvarius.
I’ve always admired these courageous little falcons for their pluck and wondered, only slightly in jest, if they might have a bit of a Napoleon complex.
They’re truly a bird with cojones – both sexes.
Ron
I’m a little late, but happy new year!
I’ve never once seen a creature who cared about those fake owls. I’ve seen squirrels within inches of them, and birds practically perched on them. I always wonder why they don’t just put a device that plays a Coopers or Sharp-Shinned Hawks cry there instead. That would keep the birds away. I’ve seen a Cooper’s with a pigeon (or dove), and one time I saw one fly into a very leafy tree which, within seconds, had a cloud of small birds flying out of it Those accipiter’s are vicious! And a redtail cry would keep the rodents away. Might disrupt the natural order of things there though.
Great picture!
Yesterday Harold and I were driving down the highway and we saw a Blue Heron perched on top of an electric pole! We turned around and he moved to the next post. He did that several times before flying away. Is this weird or what? We really do enjoy these birds!
Happy New Year, Ron.
I do love hearing about and seeing feisty birds that punch well above their weight. Thank you.
And a very Happy New Year to you and yours.
I suppose you’re New Years Day is half gone already, EC. I hope it’s been a great one so far.
Great shot Ron,too Funny! Happy New Year!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
MegaMoxie! Happy New Year, Ron!
Thank you, Marie. I hope you have a great one too.
Darn! I forgot to wish everyone a very happy and productive New Year!! Thank you for all the smiles and learnings and friendliness here! ((((HUGS)))) to everybody!
Right back at you, Laura. I always enjoy reading your comments.
What a GREAT shot!! And Yep, that’s a Kestrel! Brave, determined, stubborn, plucky, annoying, and overall, just terrific powerhouses!
Oh how I wish I’d developed the plastic owl idea. I’d be a zillionaire now, but alas, when the thought occurred to me, I dismissed it because I figured just as soon as the birds figured out that the owl didn’t move, its threat potential would decrease exponentially. The thought never crossed my mind that I would have already sold the owl and it would have worked for a little while. 🙂
When I lived in Dallas, grackles (hordes of them) perched on and around those owls in several places. And of course, grackles were one of the target species the plastic owls were supposed to discourage. Oh well! Those bird brains are smarter than we think!
Laura, Years ago I tried one of those plastic owls in my garden in a vain attempt at keeping birds from eating my recent sprouts. It was a waste of time – the birds still ate them, they just chose a spot in the garden not close to the owl.
HI Ron! Love those Owls! Great job! Sure wished you could see the Comet that is to cross the moon tonight near Midnight? Maybe someone you know will be able to see it somewhere? Sure will not see it here in Va. to many street lights for me! Happy New Year 2017
Thanks, Hummingbird Lover. There’ll be no comet for me tonight – there’s so much fog and inversion that at times I can barely see across the street!
I was out at Farmington Bay Wednesday morning, it was too fogged in for good bird photos. There was in immature Bald Eagle sitting in the Russian Olive tress, trying to warm itself in the limited sun. Their were a pair of Kestrels diving at it. The eagle hunkered down and tried to shuffle deeper into the Russian Olive. The Kestrels perched a branch away from the Eagle screaming at it. It seemed like a standoff.
Sounds like typical behavior for those feisty little falcons, April.
When I read the title, my first thought was,”Don’tvall kestrels have moxie?”…Dickbsaid itvall for me, esp. about the guano…
Moxie comes in their DNA, Patty. Gobs of it.
Great way to end the year, Ron! Moxie, indeed! Happy New Year- db
Thank you, Diane.
LOL – I love the symbolism of not just the Kestrel sitting on the fake owl, but the guano on the owl!
Nice shot!
I tend to believe that Kestrels become aware of their ability to fly circles around bigger birds and are not fazed by them. They have a quiet fierceness that is appealing, unlike the arrogant Cooper’s Hawk who thinks it owns the space it occupies. I admire both!
You’re right about that, Dick. Being small, and being a falcon, they can outfly just about everything in the sky.
Ron,
Nice “catch light” in the owl’s eyes! Those owls are my best “bird pictures” because they hold still and never fly away! Also I can usually find a bird or two close to that bridge.
Happy New Year!!
Stephen Clayson
Ha, thanks for noticing that, Stephen. And I even got a double catch light in the owl’s right eye! 🙂
Thank you, Ron, for starting off my day with a big smile. Kestrels are born with all that courage and attitude. My favorite memory of the babies from the first nesting of the pair of Kestrels who liked our neighbors’ palm tree, was when the oldest baby, on the first day he was flying, went after a horny White-winged Dove, who was clearly annoying the poor Kestrel. (Given that the Dove couldn’t tell the difference between a male Kestrel and a female Dove, I’m surprised that there are so many Doves around.) The best part was seeing the young Kestrel’s ability and willingness to take care of himself.
“Given that the Dove couldn’t tell the difference between a male Kestrel and a female Dove, I’m surprised that there are so many Doves around”
You’ve returned the “smile favor” with that part of your comment, Susan. Thanks for that!
A great way to end the year…Thanks Ron…looking forward to another year of your fantastic images….Happy New year to you!
The same to you, Steve. Thank you.
Best of luck in the New Year, Ron. Your work is always an inspiration and I hope our paths cross again soon.
Thanks, Neil. Me too…
Ron. He even looks a little fluffed up and pleased with himself. Wonderful photo for your New yeas Eve post.
Thanks for all you do.
He is fluffed up, Diana and he’s even standing on one foot to show his nonchalance…
Kinda an “in your face” gesture to the folks who took the effort to put that silly owl up there to begin with. They are probably saying, “how rude!”.
Thanks for the fun stuff Ron, and Happy New Year!
Frank, Those “owls” have been there for at least 10 years that I know of and probably longer than that. I often see kestrels perched on them but other species seldom do.
Found a neat little burrowing owl story in the California section of the LA Times this morning. Hope the link works! http://eeditionmobile.latimes.com/Olive/Tablet/LATimes/SharedArticle.aspx?href=LAT%2F2016%2F12%2F31&id=Ar01103
It worked for me, Marty. I love seeing kids being engaged by and appreciating birds.
Not only are you a fantastic photographer from another galaxy,
but you are also a Saint… Thanks Ron.. ;-)))
🙂 🙂
Hardly…
I don’t know how your morning is going, but my computer is doing crazy things,
and my brain is following close behind. I won’t try to explain, only congratulate
you on a wonderful/funny capture, and say, I hope your 2017 is filled with many
more beautiful images… and as always, take care, be safe, stay well, and
HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR… ;-)))
No worries, Roger. I fixed your “typo” within seconds after your first comment came in.
I often make the same kind of error when replying to comments – the advantage for me is that I can fix it (if I notice it…)
Ron–My morning ritual lately has been to fix some coffee, step into the pc room, rattle my box awake from a sleep state, and hit your site. This morning I still had a cup in my left hand as I clicked to this wonderful image, and started laughing so hard I spilled coffee on the keyboard slider. Luckily, I didn’t wreck my keyboard. 🙂 It’s good to start the day with a hearty laugh. Thank you!….Mitch
PS–Several “witty” things came to mind as soon as I saw this one, but I’ll keep my comments “PG” and say….nothing more. This image truly is worth a thousand words!
“Several “witty” things came to mind as soon as I saw this one, but I’ll keep my comments “PG” and say”
I had some of those same inclinations when I was rewriting this post, Mitch. I (mostly) resisted.
Thankfully, keyboards are cheap. I have to replace mine almost annually, for a variety of reasons.
This bird definitely has chutzpah! The whitewash just punctuates it. Thank you for a giggle on the last day of 2016.
Wishing everyone a great 2017! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed this photo as much as I do, Marty. Thanks.
They do! 🙂 Montana Outdoors mag’s annual special issue of pictures features a kestrel in full attack mode on the head of an immature Bald Eagle in flight on the inside cover! Appears the eagles eye is in danger in the photo! A gal named Kate Davis took it. Neat picture!
That sounds like a spectacular photo, Judy. I’m familiar with some of Kate’s work.
It is on her site under eagles……………
I found it – it’s a neat shot.
Here’s the link for anyone interested but you have to go to “eagles” to find it.
http://www.raptorsoftherockies.com/
Kate Davis’s photo is amazing. Wow comes out of my mouth instinctively, my kids tease me and tell me to use other words so to get their goat I have been yelling “Far Out”. Thank you John Denver!
Ha,ha… great image Ron… Hope you have a very Happy New Year…
As always… take care, be safe, stay well, and may your 2017 be
filled with more beautiful images… ;-)))
Thank you, Roger.