Blog Archives
A very special bird-Peregrine Falcon
Friends, not only is this a juvenile peregrine falcon, but it is a juvenile tundra peregrine that was raised in the far northland. This subspecie is smaller and lighter in plummage than the normal peregrine. Peregrines have recovered from near extinction in the 50s with the help of dedicated bird lovers. I have watched the regeneration program in Rochester Minnesota where the bluer and darker peregrines raise their chicks in nests atop the Mayo Clinic buildings. I have watched them feed their young on building ledges but i have never seen one in the wild. The experts on Hawk Ridge were quite excited to show this bird in hand and educate the public. They have survived due to the diligence of those who legislated to ban ddt, resulting in the saving of many bird species, til Tomorrow MJ
MY Goshawk
Friends, this is my goshawk that i adopted on Hawk ridge yesterday, actually my husband adopted him for me. What a thrill to hold her in my hands and release her back to her element. The banders had captured two juveniles at the same time and since there is always a competition for food in the nest, the hawks were objecting to being so close together again. This is how they plead for food from the adults, lots of screaming. When i held her she was quiet, and patiently awaited being released above the cliff over Lake Superior and flying off to hunt her own food. Below is an image of me with my bird, thanks Jimmy, til Tomorrow MJ
Natural Watercolors
Friends, Hawk ridge yesterday, but no birds. The sky was almost clear when i got there, but a storm blew in and covered my car with pea-sized hail. After the storm, i shot some fall foliage cause the sumac was gorgeous up on the ridge. More experiments with moving the camera during the exposure. I think this looks like a watercolor. Below is an experiment with the under layer moved and the top layer more sharp, a paper birch changing its clothes. til Tomorrow MJ
Pièce de résistance- Red Tailed Hawk
Friends, this Red tailed Hawk is indeed the best of my hawk images to date. His crouched pose and withering stare show his predator character very well. You can be glad you are not a mouse or vole scurrying across an open grassy meadow where this bird can see you. From research data, it appears that these birds may be susceptible to the West Nile virus, so swat the mosquitos and save the redtails. til Tomorrow MJ
Smallest Falcon
Friends, this smallest of the falcons is an American Kestrel. This is a male bird having blue-gray wing feathers and a brownish back, the female has a totally brown back and lovely brown wings as seen in the image below. The female kestrel has the remains from her breakfast on her beak. Yes, I could edit it away with Photoshop, but I choose to leave it as a reminder of their struggle for food and survival. Often they will hunt from overhead wires and hover over their prey, then dive to capture a small bird or mouse. The two black slashes on their face are called the sideburns and mustache :), til Tomorrow MJ
Broad-Winged Hawk
Friends, this beautiful baby is a broad-winged Hawk and they are migrating in great numbers over Hawk Ridge. The day this was taken over 5000 passed over the ridge, and on the ninth of september over 15000 were counted over the ridge. They tend to leave the nesting area in large flocks and can form “kettles” as they circle in the air. Their diet is a varied one ranging from frogs and lizards to small birds, even on occasion they may eat a large insect. They are very numerous in the air, but they rarely visit the lower reaches of hawk ridge so this was a rare treat at the educational area. Hope you enjoy this pretty bird, til Tomorrow MJ
Young Harrier
Friends, this close-up shows the juvenile Northern Harrier facial structure. He was captured at Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota and banded. While the educator had him in hand, i shot his portrait. This bird has a facial disc that helps to concentrate the sounds of prey very similar to owls. His rusty coloring will change to gray as he ages. His antics around the Crex Meadows are especially evident in the fall as he hunts the migrating birds and ducks. He circles low over the cattails looking below for prey, then dives down to catch them in his talons. Below is a Harrier hunting over Crex. til Tomorrow MJ
Hawk Ridge- Sharp Shinned Hawk
Friends, A visit today and yesterday to Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota, a place about an hours drive from our home. In the fall the hawks and other large birds migrate southward along the west shore of Lake Superior and often soar over Hawk Ridge. The observatory group there counts the birds every year and they band many birds . They also educate the public about these wonderful birds that are often not seen close up and personal like this bird. An educator is holding this bird and after a chat with us, the birds are turned loose to return to their migration. This bird is a female sharp shined hawk and i was surprised by the small size. When she matures, her chest feathers will get horizontal banding, her eye will go orange then red, and her back feather will get more of a gray than the chocolate brown that she has now. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 