She ended up doing both.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
These are older photos of a female American Kestrel with a vole for breakfast. She was wary of me and at first I could tell she was seriously considering flying off with the rodent but eventually she settled down and began to work on her meal.
Many of my photos of her are graphic so I’ve chosen to include this one, taken early in my session with her, where the vole isn’t yet so messy. There never was blood or guts to be seen but she expertly skinned a significant portion of the vole so there was a lot of red meat exposed.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
She calmly worked at skinning the vole for a while, taking a few small bites during the process, but eventually and for a reason I never understood she became nervous again. In this photo I just happened to click my shutter while she was in a pre-takeoff posture. A millisecond after this shot was taken, she took off to her right and away from me.
I like her flared tail, raised wing and the vole fur in her beak.
Ron
Note: In a last-minute decision I decided to risk it and include one of the photos that documents her skinning process. As I said earlier, it isn’t gory but some would consider it graphic. If you don’t want to see it, there’s a simple solution – just don’t scroll any further. If you do scroll further, it’s a decision you’ve made.
Please, no complaints. You’ve been warned.
She discarded much of the vole’s skin and fur but she flew off with what was left before starting to eat seriously.
Nice images. She is giving you stink eye! To this day I can not prepare a mouse for feeding for babies or fledglings. I have someone do it for me. It’s not the gore it is the prep, I can stand the sound of cutting them up.
For some reason I seldom see them around here so this was a treat. Thank you for posting !!
Before I started scrolling down the comments I was thinking red in tooth and claw. Thanks to Frances for reminding me from whence that phrase came.
Nature has no need to be pretty (though she often is).
I am glad that she got a good meal. And that she took it with her.
Thanks, EC. Kestrels almost never leave prey behind.
I enjoy seeing the more subtle beauty of the female kestrel’s markings. She’s an expert skinner and I’m so glad she got to enjoy her meal, even though most of her dining experience was out of your visual range.
Thank you for showing “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of Nature. As for the complainers, I can always share cadaver lab stories if they’d like — I’ve got some winners! 😉
(Oh, and ketchup on scrambled eggs is delicious! 😈)
Ha, I’ll bet you put syrup on your eggs too.
In restaurants I always put a spoon under one edge of my plate to keep the syrup from running into my eggs and hashbrowns. I don’t even want them to touch…
I’m not an animal! Pancakes, waffles, or French toast go on a separate plate (although I have been known to dip my bacon or sausage in the syrup).
I appreciate the warning so I could prepare myself. That, for me, wasn’t super gory.
And? I love this series. She is a flighty lady, isn’t she?
“She is a flighty lady, isn’t she?”
She was unpredictably jumpy, Arwen. I still don’t know why she got nervous the second time.
Well, I’m one who does appreciate the warning … just as I appreciate having the opportunity to get a look at the hard work this kestrel had to put in to make a meal out of that vole. And harder work for her than for the humans who—as Judy pointed out—skin their food, since she’s gotta use “tooth and claw” to get the job done. I hope she finally enjoyed every last morsel!
Thanks, Chris. I’ll continue with the warnings on those occasions when I post photos like this one.
Thanks for posting all of these photos. Some things can be gory and fascinating at the same time. Nature makes no attempt to conform to our artificial sense of ethics. I understand some not wanting to see such images but you do give warning. Those who complain often don’t wish to see the complexities of the natural world, only pretty pictures, which are great but in themselves, do little to represent the full realities of nature. I have customers who are very offended that our store sells live mealworms to feed to birds and others who oppose us selling suet because it’s animal fat. I’m told it should be vegan, which, of course, is not what birds would eat in the wild. I think you do us a great service by showing us, from time to time, all sides of nature. It’s all important and can further aid our understanding and appreciation of what’s around us.
Very well said, Dan. Geez, I can’t believe what some folks will complain about.
Yep – “if” they get it some don’t like “feeder” goldfish either…… 😉
Thank you for these photos. Brings back so many memories. These tiny falcons are so wonderful, and their plumage so beautifully tells us “he” from “she”.
Though Kestrels have disappeared from my neighborhood (no more open fields), the occasional mockingbird will still echo their call.
Michael, I wish you still had kestrels to go along with the mockingbirds.
Beautiful shots Ron. No problem with the skinned vole – my Dad was a meat cutter. Ever since they went off to mate and breed, I have rarely since a Kestrel since spring here. Would guess that they will be showing up again soon.
I remember that Tennyson poem that Frances quotes, but I’m betting it was at least 60 years ago that I last read it.
Everett, I was unfamiliar with that poem but I’m generally not a big fan of poetry.
I am not one who thinks graphic shots of nature should not be posted, but I prefer a warning, especially when I’m not expecting to see it. Thanks for catering to the sensitive reader! We love nature, but like to turn our heads when the guts are exposed. : )
I am sorry if some complaints have made you less likely to post photos you feel are important to tell the story. That’s not right.
Mary, when I post photos like that one I’ll continue to provide warnings.
Is that “stripe” near the center of the carcass the vole’s spine ? I’m impressed
that the skinning job is so neat– very little blood and guts. You’d think that the
kestrel had a sharp little knife to work with instead of a relatively blunt beak !
“Is that “stripe” near the center of the carcass the vole’s spine ?”
I believe so, Kris. More precisely I think it’s connective tissue that marks where the spine is.
Wonderful work Ron! All the detail is much appreciated and simply documents the wonders of nature IMHO. Thanks for the continual work on your part to maintain such a high quality blog. I learn so much from your work.
Thanks very much, Rick.
Nice shots! Interesting how birds will be plucked of feathers by some before being consumed. Skinning the Vole make take energy but leaves less unuseable “fluff” to be digested. Of course, humans skin animals before consumption also…. 😉
Judy, it’s interesting that sometimes the same raptor species will skin or de-fur the vole and sometimes they won’t.
Sounds like some of it may be learned………
I like all the pictures. And I think that Alfred, Lord Tennyson would also:
Who trusted God was love indeed
And love Creation’s final law–
Tho’ Nature, red in tooth and claw
With ravine, shriek’d against his creed –
Yes, he probably would.
Enjoyed your post and the commentators’ humor!
Good. Thanks, Terri.
Eew. There is just no accounting for taste. I prefer my vole with a dollop of ketchup. And give that Kestrel a napkin.
Lyle, it’s pretty hard to be a dainty eater without using hands.
Geez, I’ll bet you’re one of those who puts ketchup on your eggs too. Eew…
Ron, I think it’s important to show the graphic photo, too. It underlines how much work goes into the kestrel’s getting a meal. It’s not just a matter of catching something, hard as that is, and swallowing it quickly. I also really appreciate your capturing the exquisite beauty of the bird in such detail.
I think it’s important too, Nanci.
When I’ve posted similar photos in the distant past there always seemed to be at least one person, sometimes more, who complained about it, so doing so makes me wary. And those complainers have usually been folks who have never commented before.