Peregrine Falcons - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**halfstreet** · 01-16-2012, 03:08 AM

Here are some photos I took of a pair of Peregrine Falcons. These things are amazingly fast and not very easy to photograph. Unlike the rest of the world, Peregrines are still pretty common here and stable in numbers. They are always a joy to see. The photo of the chicks was taken by my friend who studies them.

The last two photos are of a Wedge-tailed Eagle chick. This is the largest Australian eagle and the 3rd largest in the world. These use to get hunted a lot by farmers as they mistakenly believed they killed sheep. There numbers were greatly reduced but they are now protected and have recovered well. They can be commonly seen soaring high in the sky.

**selayeffethy** · 01-16-2012, 03:16 AM

Fantastic David!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite raptor!! I was lucky enough to watch one chase down a pigeon and come crashing into a tree after it in my backyard a couple of years ago and I've only seen it once since then. We also have a pair of resident wedgetails which make an apearence from time to time. Love those pics!

Mike

**megasprut** · 01-16-2012, 03:43 AM

Great Falcon shots! Is that a wild or a trained bird? Either way nice job.

**halfstreet** · 01-16-2012, 04:04 AM

Quote:

**ambiddetcat** · 01-16-2012, 04:14 AM

what is your lens?

**usaneisfiecup** · 01-16-2012, 04:22 AM

Wow! Amazing pictures!

**elton** · 01-16-2012, 04:22 AM

Splendid pictures of magnificent birds of prey... The two chicks are cute

**ZanazaKar** · 01-16-2012, 04:27 AM

Killer shots David!

2 Qs-Did your friend do the banding in #5 ?

Shutter priority?

Again, nice work.

**LSDDSL** · 01-16-2012, 04:33 AM

Great shots, David!

**eEwbYjOH** · 01-16-2012, 05:06 AM

Great shots! I never knew peregrine's are also found in Australia...thought they were strictly northern hemisphere. Believe it or not, although I haven't seen any, they do very well in NYC. The bridges provide their ideal nesting sites, and we have loads of pigeons for them to eat.

**zueqhbyhp** · 01-16-2012, 05:10 AM

Stunning birds, stunning photos!

**syptopsygieds** · 01-16-2012, 07:07 AM

very nice!

**halfstreet** · 01-16-2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

**searkibia** · 01-16-2012, 11:39 AM

Wonderful birds and photos. Great posting!

**Marlboro-oroblraM** · 01-16-2012, 12:38 PM

great shots. Like Eric, we have populations in many cities in the UK, lots of pigeons and places to roost and nest,
David

**ZanazaKar** · 01-16-2012, 12:51 PM

David- No, not the chicks.

Photo #5- just magnified to 400%. On bird's right leg, there is a off-white/light gray stripe around. After further scrutiny, maybe this is the result of missing leg feathers(exposing parts not normally seen, not sure if this is called down on raptors, like goose down).
Also just noticed, in photo #1(same bird?), looks like loose feather on same leg.
So, maybe what I'm seeing is just white feathery down in #5. My bad.

The chicks- those are some knarly looking feet.

Nice you can go f2.8. Love shutter priority. Can't think of any other setting at the moment.
Over the last 3yrs, I have about four sightings of Peregrine within 400 meters of our home. But there are a few areas within an hour drive,
that they can be viewed consistantly.

Thanks for the feedback David.

**halfstreet** · 01-16-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

**AndyPharmc** · 01-16-2012, 05:16 PM

Impressive pics David!!!! Jean

**megasprut** · 01-16-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

**stuntduood** · 01-16-2012, 07:15 PM

Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics!
Best regards, Gina

01-16-2012, 03:16 AM	#2
selayeffethy Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 473 Senior Member	Fantastic David!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite raptor!! I was lucky enough to watch one chase down a pigeon and come crashing into a tree after it in my backyard a couple of years ago and I've only seen it once since then. We also have a pair of resident wedgetails which make an apearence from time to time. Love those pics! Mike Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-16-2012, 03:43 AM	#3
megasprut Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 493 Senior Member	Great Falcon shots! Is that a wild or a trained bird? Either way nice job. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 04:04 AM	#4
halfstreet Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 498 Senior Member	Quote: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 04:22 AM	#6
usaneisfiecup Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 420 Senior Member	Wow! Amazing pictures! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 04:22 AM	#7
elton Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 650 Senior Member	Splendid pictures of magnificent birds of prey... The two chicks are cute Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 03:08 AM	#1
halfstreet Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 498 Senior Member	Peregrine Falcons Here are some photos I took of a pair of Peregrine Falcons. These things are amazingly fast and not very easy to photograph. Unlike the rest of the world, Peregrines are still pretty common here and stable in numbers. They are always a joy to see. The photo of the chicks was taken by my friend who studies them. The last two photos are of a Wedge-tailed Eagle chick. This is the largest Australian eagle and the 3rd largest in the world. These use to get hunted a lot by farmers as they mistakenly believed they killed sheep. There numbers were greatly reduced but they are now protected and have recovered well. They can be commonly seen soaring high in the sky. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-16-2012, 04:14 AM	#5
ambiddetcat Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 517 Senior Member	what is your lens? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 04:27 AM	#8
ZanazaKar Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 531 Senior Member	Killer shots David! 2 Qs-Did your friend do the banding in #5 ? Shutter priority? Again, nice work. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 04:33 AM	#9
LSDDSL Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 619 Senior Member	Great shots, David! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 05:06 AM	#10
eEwbYjOH Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 455 Senior Member	Great shots! I never knew peregrine's are also found in Australia...thought they were strictly northern hemisphere. Believe it or not, although I haven't seen any, they do very well in NYC. The bridges provide their ideal nesting sites, and we have loads of pigeons for them to eat. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-16-2012, 05:10 AM	#11
zueqhbyhp Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 453 Senior Member	Stunning birds, stunning photos! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 07:07 AM	#12
syptopsygieds Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 391 Senior Member	very nice! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 09:33 AM	#13
halfstreet Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 498 Senior Member	Quote: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 11:39 AM	#14
searkibia Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 554 Senior Member	Wonderful birds and photos. Great posting! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 12:38 PM	#15
Marlboro-oroblraM Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 376 Senior Member	great shots. Like Eric, we have populations in many cities in the UK, lots of pigeons and places to roost and nest, David Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 12:51 PM	#16
ZanazaKar Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 531 Senior Member	David- No, not the chicks. Photo #5- just magnified to 400%. On bird's right leg, there is a off-white/light gray stripe around. After further scrutiny, maybe this is the result of missing leg feathers(exposing parts not normally seen, not sure if this is called down on raptors, like goose down). Also just noticed, in photo #1(same bird?), looks like loose feather on same leg. So, maybe what I'm seeing is just white feathery down in #5. My bad. The chicks- those are some knarly looking feet. Nice you can go f2.8. Love shutter priority. Can't think of any other setting at the moment. Over the last 3yrs, I have about four sightings of Peregrine within 400 meters of our home. But there are a few areas within an hour drive, that they can be viewed consistantly. Thanks for the feedback David. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-16-2012, 01:18 PM	#17
halfstreet Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 498 Senior Member	Quote: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 05:16 PM	#18
AndyPharmc Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 461 Senior Member	Impressive pics David!!!! Jean Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 06:58 PM	#19
megasprut Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 493 Senior Member	Quote: Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-16-2012, 07:15 PM	#20
stuntduood Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 435 Senior Member	Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics! Best regards, Gina Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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