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Discussion of other Raptor species; their anatomy, biology, ecology, etc.
Topic Started: Sep 16 2007, 11:04 AM (18,127 Views)
Patti
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Gosh, I forgot why I logged in today. I saw one large dark Red-t and another hawk, I think a smaller light-bodied Red-t, but don't really know--being chased by 3 ravens (or crows)? I heard ravens, but can't confirm the calls were coming from the chasers...but think they were.

The light-bodied hawk was considerably smaller than the dark Red-tail, yet I do see a dark Red-tail often soaring with a light-bodied Red-tail. Don't know if it's the same birds today..of course. Smaller hawk was missing a big wing feather, so I'll keep my eye on for that feature.
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Raptorman
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Patti
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Bill, thank you for the information regarding Sibley's. I appreciate the finer details you provide and, personally, don't approve of what Sibley's did with the peregrine information. For one thing, it apears w-r-o-n-g no matter what justification the authors chose to use. Please, always inform us when this occurs. I'll make notes in my Sibley book.

At one point, it sort of appeared the Red-t was harrassing the smaller light-bodied hawk--but to tell the truth, I didn't check out the tail of the smaller bird, only focused on the missing wing feather. (Duh...well, women, you know. :wacko:)

At the "best" vewing point, the darned birds were also too close to the sun and I couldn't watch...can't wear dark glasses with my binocs, which is frustrating. They went east and I could resume viewing. Went from west to east...a good chase. :o
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Naturegal
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Ostrich/Ian - Glad you at least got to see some birds at High Park even if they were soaring at a high altitude. Perhaps, next week you will be able to get some photos.

Haven't seen the Brisbane peregrine all day so am hoping it had a successful fledge and will return to the nesting area for a visit. The mortality rate in young fledlings is so high it upsets me so am keeping :X: that "Dolly" is safe and just exploring her new territory.


I copied the following from the Brisbane cam site.........

Week six: The babies are finally ready to fly the nest. After a great deal of time spent running along the edges of the nesting area furiously flapping their wings, they finally launch themselves into the wide blue yonder. Sadly, studies indicate 60 and 80 per cent of peregrine falcons will die while they are still chicks, with many killed after plunging to the ground during their first clumsy attempts at flight.

Literature on the falcons indicates survival rates are often higher when the birds nest in urban areas because chicks with broken wings and legs are usually rescued and nursed back to health.

Weeks six to twelve: the young falcons stay around the nest for up to six weeks after fledging, learning to fly and hunt effectively before leaving to begin their own lives. The birds reach sexual maturity at two years and can live as long as 20 years.
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Patti
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Carole, I think if the little one is injured, she be discovered and taken to a rescue. They must have a lot of local folks watching Dolly! I sure hope the bird survives!
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Nancy
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Well finally I have the pictures from Hawk Hill! This first one is of the view from up there and it is spectacular. So welcome to San Francisco!

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Nancy
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And now for the rest. I will post them thumbnail size and you can click on them to view larger. If you remember they had banded a rare dark morph Red Tail and a Coopers Hawk. I will let you distinguish between the two. Note that in one of the photos you can see the tube/cylinder that they put the raptors in for banding purposes.
Have fun and enjoy!

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Nancy
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Part 2

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Raptorman
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Naturegal
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Nancy - Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing this special event with us.
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Patti
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Nancy, thank you for posting your great Hawk Hill photos! A real treat for us, so can only imagine how much fun for you.

Bill, well, it's so obvious, I'm embarrassed to comment, but since you asked.

Red-tail--the tail color says it's a young bird. It isn't red yet (orange, to me).

If Sibley is accurate, the eye color on the Red-t is still yellow/light, which would indicate a juvenile.

I don't have a good eye for the wings, but I'm sure there is something to indicate it's a juvenile, don't know what, though. Can't see it.
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Cooper's hawk--the chest color is still pale/light with thin dark streaks and isn't the flatter rufous color yet.

The Cooper's eye color is still light, as a juvenile--and it turns maybe a reddish brown color as an adult, it appears.

I think the color around the Coopers neck area may lighten in general with age?
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Bill, I don't have a good eye with this, but the two top photos in Nancy's first post seem to be the Red-t and the remainder (on the first post) are the Cooper's. I think, not sure on it.

Bill, what color do YOU call the Red-tail?

Thank you, again, Nancy for the great photos!
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Raptorman
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Bea
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Patti,Nov 5 2007
03:30 PM
....
The light-bodied hawk was considerably smaller than the dark Red-tail, yet I do see a dark Red-tail often soaring with a light-bodied Red-tail.  Don't know if it's the same birds today..of course. Smaller hawk was missing a big wing feather, so I'll keep my eye on for that feature.

Patti, I have seen both of them, and I think I have a picture of the one with the missing wingfeather. - I will look later on.

I have been MIA (again) for a while, but I have been checking in to see the outcome of Petra's mystery bird and noticed a lot of other discussions. Will have to catch up on all your posts very soon.

Regarding Petra's bird, I think Bill tried to throw us off track on purpose so that we will learn to trust ourself, and not what others may say.
Needless to say, I too was looking for some type of European or even African bird, until I accidentally came upon the site where Petra's pic had originally been posted, and where it was identified as a red-shouldered Hawk. Imagine my confusion. Bill said it's not a North-American species??? :blink: GOOD ONE BILL!! You got all of us. I didn't send you my guess, since I saw the original site, and just sat back and waited for what Bill would have to say :lol: . Thanks Bill, that was fun. NO, REALLY, IT WAS FUN!! rofl

I have 2 very exciting sightings to report. The most recent was last night. I was able to observe a Barn Owl perched on a telephone pole a couple houses down. It was too dark to ID it then, but we did manage to get a couple of pics (although a little dark) and I was able to ID it from there. We watched it for approximately 45 minutes before it took off in our direction, and actually flew right over our heads. It was awesome. If my arm was about double as long as it is, I could have reached out and touched it.

The other sighting was of what I believe to be a white-tailed kite. We observed it hovering over some open fields last week, no doubt in search of dinner. Again, I do have a few pics of this also, and will post them later on if that's okay.
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Raptorman
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Nancy
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Good eyes everyone. I knew Bill could generate some questions out of these photos. They were both juvenile birds. The dark morph red tail as it matures can be a bit more difficult to identify especially the leading edge of the underside of the wings. The dark area is difficult to see, but he would have the "red tail" and be mostly brown in color or darker. Glad that everyone enjoyed the photos. I wish you could all have been there that day. The weather was beautiful and a great day for birding.
Did you all see the differences in the feet? and why that is?
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