The co-operative peregrine.

We had gone for a drive to try to find a snow owl.
They are in the area but we haven't found one yet this year.
We still haven't found one.

Instead we found a very co-operative peregrine falcon in Point Edward at the mouth of the St. Clair River.
It sat one a sign and didn't seem to care that we were creeping closer and closer.
This shot was from about 90 feet.
Best look and best photo I've had of a peregrine.

Falco peregrinus
Powerful and fast-flying, the Peregrine Falcon hunts medium-sized birds, dropping down on them from high above in a spectacular stoop. They were virtually eradicated from eastern North America by pesticide poisoning in the middle 20th century. After significant recovery efforts, Peregrine Falcons have made an incredible rebound and are now regularly seen in many large cities and coastal areas.

The name "peregrine" means wanderer, and the Peregrine Falcon has one of the longest migrations of any North American bird. Tundra-nesting falcons winter in South America, and may move 25,000 km (15,500 mi) in a year. Maps of the migration of individual falcons determined by satellite telemetry can be seen at Environment Canada.

During its spectacular hunting stoop from heights of over 1 km (0.62 mi), the peregrine may reach speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph) as it drops toward its prey.

source -Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Nice shot, Ric.

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