10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2017

Falcon Wild is a new book in that long tradition, and this one features a more realistic (though still very slightly romanticized) portrait of a human/animal partnership. An aspect of Falcon Wild that really sets it apart from the books I mentioned in my first paragraph is that Karma is sometimes alone, but never unconnected from society.

Falcons 131

Falcons Wolves Dolphins Montana 131

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2013

On 11 November 2012 I was leaving Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake after a fruitless morning of trying to photograph birds in a snowstorm and poor light when a female Prairie Falcon ambushed this Northern Shoveler on the water not far from the causeway on which I was driving. Here she is making one of her very low passes over the duck.

Falcons 125

Falcons Ducks Utah 2003 125

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2012

Red-tailed Hawks often hunt through dusk in San Francisco. Peregrine Falcons frequent the sheer rock faces of Tennessee Valley. Carrizo Plain harbors shrikes, meadowlarks, eagles, falcons, etc… oh, and flowers. Varied Thrush habitat on Mount Tamalpais. I imagine them beaming through this shortcut too.

San Francisco 214

San Francisco Tennessee Falcons Owls 214

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2024

Now a common breeding bird on the island: Spurwinged Lapwing For many visiting birders, Eleonora’s Falcons are one of the biggest draws. One September I watched a pack of seven Eleonora’s hunting a juvenile Swift. Despite its speed, the Swift didn’t stand a chance, for these falcons are deadly hunters.

Cyprus 246

Cyprus Breeders Falcons Hunters 246

10,000 Birds

JUNE 26, 2014

Keep your eyes to the skies for hunting falcons ! Is it that time already, when a young birder’s fancy turns to, um, non-birds ? Indeed, those long hot stretches between migratory periods can try a bird watcher’s soul as surely as a cold, dark, birdless winter.

2014 207

2014 New York Falcons Hunting 207

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2022

A large, bulky falcon cruising overhead could only be a Peregrine Falcon. As soon as we noticed it, a Merlin appeared from nowhere and headed directly for the Peregrine, divebombing the larger falcon. As per usual falcon procedure, it all happened much too quickly for me to get a decent photograph!

Falcons 264

Falcons Trinidad Ducks Livestock 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2013

If this Red-tailed Hawk was wearing a T-shirt, it might say, “I’d rather be hunting nuisance birds.” ” Garrulous gulls and stealing starlings, beware: the falcons are coming. (No, No, not those Falcons from Atlanta. The benefits to the falconers, according to the article, include generous fees.)

Ethical Treatment 169

Ethical Treatment Atlanta Falcons Chicago 169

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2019

While the hunting of game with trained birds of prey can be a controversial topic among birders , falconry was a valuable early source of information on birds, and its history, culture, and imagery continue to fascinate bird lovers, as we shall see. In English, the plays of William Shakespeare abound with the language of the falconer.

2016 154

2016 Portugal Belgium Falcons 154

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2020

But some days, I also hear the loud calls of a Laughing Falcon. Ranging across a large swath of the northern evergreen zone, they spend their summers hunting small birds from Canada to Scandinavia and on east to the shores of the Bering Sea. Other days, there is a Ringed Kingfisher making grackle sounds as it courses over a stream.

Costa Rica 236

Costa Rica Falcons Farming Baltimore 236

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

Orange-breasted Falcon : Since there aren’t any specimens of this regal neotropical Falco from Costa Rica, we actually aren’t even sure if it used to live here. Hope for a vagrant comes in the form of an Orange-breasted Falcon sighting from west-central Panama.

Costa Rica 257

Costa Rica Species Panama Falcons 257

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2011

We also have a richness of falcons. Within 4 kilometres of where I live there are two active aeries, a Gyrfalcon’s and a Peregrine Falcon’s. However, in the context of this week, my point is that there is a lot of prime real estate up here for falcon aeries. The landscape is dramatic to say the least.

Falcons 182

Falcons Hunting Breeding Birds 182

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2022

Also, there was a Black Kite awaiting us, as well as one Red-footed Falcon sitting on a dead oak branch. King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was known for his hunting forays into this forest, only months prior to his assassination during a 1934 state visit to France. Photo by Surcin Municipality.

Croatia 262

Croatia Serbia Shelters France 262

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Yet, one other hunting attempt in the same area I do remember. The next memorable hunt came from winter 2006/07. … To everyone’s delight, a Saker Falcon soon appeared, offering excellent views as it banked in a long stoop after a hapless distant passerine. But no, that sighting is no longer in my head, only on paper.

Serbia 258

Serbia 2004 Eagles Chickens 258

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

As I neared the shore, I spooked a hunting Striated Heron who in turn spooked a Neotropic Cormorant hunting the shallow water. I had never seen a Peregrine Falcon soaring with Black Vultures before – interestingly enough I would later see the very same occurrence two days later on another part of the island. Black Vulture.

Trinidad 253

Trinidad Birds Parrots Falcons 253

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

And that is why the hides are where they are, not to admire the scenery (or shoot at it – hunting is prohibited in the reserve and the ban is enforced). The hide overlooking the breeding colony of Red-footed Falcons. Only, this time it has nothing to do with the part of the town but with the neigbours, the feathery ones.

Serbia 267

Serbia Spain Birds Hungary 267

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2021

At night, we keep our eyes out for the passage of the neighborhood Barn Owl , oftentimes a Tropical Screech-Owl would hunt insects from a low perch on our almond tree. Sometimes this Merlin ‘s mate comes to check him out, but for most of the northern winter he hunts solo.

Opossums 264

Opossums Barn Owls Reptiles Hunting 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2011

Peregrine Falcon is certainly more elegant than Duck Hawk. Assorted Galliformes: One of the bird-human interactions that tends to produce a lot of common names is hunting, and names bestowed by hunters will tend to focus on traits important to hunters: how do you find it, where do you find it, and how does it taste?

Hunters 207

Hunters Falcons Montana Ducks 207

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

Of course, we did, soaking in that slate blue beauty long enough to observe a successful hunt and more of its rangy, awkward flight. Our primeval quarry flashed that cold, knowing smile and flew off, daring us to track it down for better looks. The mighty Shoebill.

Uganda 297

Uganda Africa Penguins 2019 297

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2024

A pair of Jabiru were locked in a chase, one tucked in its eight foot wingspan and made a dive not too dissimilar from that of a falcon. The sounds of the night intensified, and we were lucky to catch a Band-tailed Nighthawk hunting overhead as we were unmooring ourselves.

Guyana 245

Guyana Otters Trinidad Bats 245

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Sociable Lapwings breed in several areas along the Kazakhstani – Russian border and overwinter in Iraq, Sudan and northwest India.

Sudan 252

Sudan India Ukraine Camels 252

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2012

The maintenance man declared that his father was a falconer, and that he would take her home so he could care for her. She taught them how to hunt, and when they were released in the fall she stayed on her perch, dozing in the sun. She wasn’t about to leave her rabbit, and the driver figured something was wrong, so he picked her up.

Rabbits 263

Rabbits New Jersey Neglecting North America 263

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Once the private hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur, this fabulous wetland gave us a list of over ninety species in a very relaxed day on a recent trip! Here we look for sandgrouse, bush-quails, francolins, wheatears, shrikes, Laggar Falcons , eagles, buzzards, and the endangered Stolikza’s Bush Chat.

India 238

India Wildlife Tigers Rhinoceros 238

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

Keep birding and you might see a White-tailed Kite hovering as it hunts rodents and one of the few Bat Falcons in the Valley might dash into view. Lesser numbers of other common birds also occur; birds like the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat , Inca Doves , saltators, Groove-billed Anis , and other species.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica Sparrows Rodents Rats 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2021

Because of that, the bird has a manure-like odour and is only hunted by humans for food in times of dire need” [ Source ]. Instead of a Pterodactyl, we had one rare Orange-breasted Falcon by the mountain top, which greeted us in the scope-view. Left to right: my guide Edson Moroni and the local shop keeper Daniel Luis.

Dolphins 264

Dolphins Colombia Otters Monkeys 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Not only were they a common bird, they were a common bird nearshore; indigenous peoples hunted them up and down the coast. North American Peregrine Falcons have also enjoyed an impressive population rebound in recent years. With a six-figure population now, Cackling Geese are an abundant visitor the west coast and the Aleutians.

Albatross 243

Albatross Endangered Species Bald Eagle Alaska 243

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2024

Some of us are captivated by the fierce stares of hawks and the raptorial majesty of a diving falcon. It was like so many other places where the young birds were stolen from nests, habitat was destroyed, and adult macaws occasionally hunted. A fair subset of birders are even crazy about gulls (!).

Costa Rica 246

Costa Rica Birds New York Parrots 246

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2021

Great Frigatebirds engage in “unihemispheric sleep” on hunting trips of six to ten days, never landing, sleeping less than an hour in a 24-hour cycle, often keeping one-half of their brain awake while the other slept. Many of these stories will be known to avid readers of environmental news items and social media.

Cyprus 264

Cyprus Slaughter Slaughtered Research 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

Great horneds are known as the “Tiger of the Woods&# because they’ll hunt anything and they are good at it, but they are slow and stealthy. When you think of a bird eating raptor, you think of fast birds like Peregrine Falcons and Cooper’s Hawks.

Bats 244

Bats Dissection Minnesota Owls 244

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2019

While the hunting of game with trained birds of prey can be a controversial topic among birders , falconry was a valuable early source of information on birds, and its history, culture, and imagery continue to fascinate bird lovers, as we shall see. During the hunt, Mary’s horse lost its footing, throwing her from the saddle into a ditch.

France 113

France Hunting Horses Falcons 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2011

Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels are a sure thing and Ferruginous Hawk, Merlin and Prairie Falcon can be found by the experienced observer. I looked over to see this beautiful male hunting from a perch directly across the bridge from me. Driving on these less traveled country roads is always relaxing and unhurried.

Bald Eagle 198

Bald Eagle Leopards Turkey Eagles 198

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2014

Get to my early morning birding destination while it was still dark, sit in the car with the radio on to prevent the inadvertent identification of a run-of-the-mill bird by voice, and wait for a Short-eared Owl to fly past on the hunt. Amazingly, it worked! Short-eared Owl is a great way to start off a birding year!

2014 181

2014 Fox Birds Owls 181

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

One thing you must do is hire a local guide, as while you can hunt for yourself you’ll see a hell of a lot more with one. And watching this from above was a Lanner Falcon. While the skies and every wire fence and electricity cable were filled with Amur Falcons , it took some skill to finally find a Red-footed Falcon among them.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Like several of my favorite NWRs, this one was established as a haven for migratory birds, most notably waterfowl, during the bad old days when uncontrolled hunting and habitat loss had put the future of even species we now think of as common in doubt. As a result, early migration season is an excellent time to visit.

Wildlife 188

Wildlife Montana Bald Eagle Geese 188

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

Here, thousands of Amur Falcons hunt for insects during the southern summer, Wattled Cranes and Denham’s Bustards may be seen, impressive Long-tailed Widowbirds display over the grasslands and the waterbodies are a haven to many hundreds of waterbirds, including Maccoa and White-backed Ducks.

Lesotho 207

Lesotho Rats Africa Woodpeckers 207

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2019

The Gyrfalcon ( Falco rusticolus ), the largest falcon in the world, is as sought after by falconers as it is by birders – and for many of the same reasons: namely, the rarity with which these imposing raptors of the Arctic visit us residing in more temperate climes.

2016 100

2016 Iceland Falcons Egypt 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

His musings on falconry in Medieval times begin with the Bayeux Tapestry, which tells the story of the Norman Conquest and is full of birds, including hawks and falcons on the wrists of the main contenders. With Birkhead, you never know what’s going to come next.

Dissection 261

Dissection Birds Europe Eggs 261

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2011

But the highlight was no doubt the Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus )that struck at sandpipers mere yards away and then flew by at eye level some 10 metres away while my camera had some electronic hiccup and refused to focus. Ermine will hunt lemmings under the snow, haunting them in their lairs.

Seals 140

Seals Falcons Hunting Family 140