For the Naturalists

Pterodactyl · Feb 12, 2015

I've received many remarkable nature photographs over the years but

this photo of a nesting falcon is perhaps the most remarkable nature

shot that I've ever seen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Nature

is truly breathtaking!

I've sent this to most of my older friends. The younger ones probably

have never seen a falcon and wouldn't
recognize
it.

Old Guy · Feb 12, 2015

That's even the much rarer European Falcon with right-side controls.

Surly · Feb 12, 2015

Bet that is an Aussie Falcon complete with Gum tree.

Old Guy · Feb 12, 2015

Surly said:
Bet that is an Aussie Falcon complete with Gum tree.

Ah. I see. And I now know where gum comes from.

Uncle Hud · Feb 12, 2015

Good stuff, Pterodactyl. Did they use a crane? Or Falcons are so old, I suppose the tree could have grown up underneath.

Here are some Falcons on concrete:

I live in a highrise in a pretty urban close-in suburb of Atlanta. A couple of years ago, the sisters on the 24th floor graduated from Georgia Tech (both chemical engineer grad students) and moved on. Their parents didn't sell their condo right away, and it sat vacant for about a year. They left all their furniture in the place, including a large, decorative urn/planter on the balcony.

One day, the Board was notified by the Department of Natural Resources that a nesting pair of falcons was observed on one of our balconies. One of two nesting pairs in a 100-mile radius.

I happened to be on the Board at the time, and was present a few times when DNR officials came to check on the "nest". Seems falcons don't really build nests, but lay eggs on the ground. In this case, Momma Falcon decided the dirt in the urn was perfect for her new family. She laid three eggs. One didn't hatch, but the two surviving fledglings grew quickly and "fluffily".

The last time DNR came out, they put aluminum bands on the chicks. Mom and Dad were really pissed -- shrieking and pecking at the DNR guy who was gloved and caped in leather as thick as welding attire.

They left in late summer and haven't returned. Hope they're OK. Funny, but there were always clusters of feathers and little bird pieces on the 8th floor garden terrace under their nest site. Guess that was Dad "coming home from the grocery store".

Mom and eggs

Fledglings on banding day