Birds of prey, or raptors, are probably the most exciting birds to see in the wild. It's not uncommon to see them majestically soaring in the sky or regally perched on a utility pole. Most of them are stealthy hunters, frequently using the element of surprise in swift pursuit of a meal. But the peregrine falcon hunts at an especially high speed, sometimes up to 200 mph, making it the fastest animal on Earth.
The red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, Harris' hawk, osprey, bald eagle, prairie falcon, American kestrel and peregrine falcon seem to make up the majority of the many raptors that call the Phoenix area a year-round home. While I've regularly encountered and photographed the first seven of these eight birds on my outdoor forays, the last has until now eluded me.
On a recent birding expedition to Gilbert's Water Ranch I was amazed by the vast number of northern shovelers on the riparian preserve's ponds. I've regularly encountered this seasonal visitor on the area's waterways but never in a single population that could have approximated a hundred individuals. While it's difficult to approach this handsome dabbling duck, on this particularly cold March morning dozens of individuals suddenly flew over me due to some disturbance on one of the swampy lakes.
In the midst of the shovelers' frantic overhead passes I quickly spotted what looked like a mostly white bird of prey diving and turning quickly. With the help of a fast shutter-speed I was able to get a couple of clear shots of the animal kingdom's fastest member. While the photographs helped confirm the subject as my first peregrine falcon sighting, conclusions about the bird's success in duck hunting would elude me.
The red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, Harris' hawk, osprey, bald eagle, prairie falcon, American kestrel and peregrine falcon seem to make up the majority of the many raptors that call the Phoenix area a year-round home. While I've regularly encountered and photographed the first seven of these eight birds on my outdoor forays, the last has until now eluded me.
On a recent birding expedition to Gilbert's Water Ranch I was amazed by the vast number of northern shovelers on the riparian preserve's ponds. I've regularly encountered this seasonal visitor on the area's waterways but never in a single population that could have approximated a hundred individuals. While it's difficult to approach this handsome dabbling duck, on this particularly cold March morning dozens of individuals suddenly flew over me due to some disturbance on one of the swampy lakes.
In the midst of the shovelers' frantic overhead passes I quickly spotted what looked like a mostly white bird of prey diving and turning quickly. With the help of a fast shutter-speed I was able to get a couple of clear shots of the animal kingdom's fastest member. While the photographs helped confirm the subject as my first peregrine falcon sighting, conclusions about the bird's success in duck hunting would elude me.
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| Flock of disturbed northern shovelers at Gilbert Water Ranch. |
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| Peregrine falcon at the Gilbert Water Ranch. It first appeared white in the morning light. |
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| Peregrine falcon at the Gilbert Water Ranch. |
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