The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a bird of prey in the Falconidae family. Also known as a duck hawk, it is a crow-sized falcon that can be found in every continent except Antarctica. It is a favourite amongst falconers for its agility and hunting ability.
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Peregrine Falcon (juvenile female)
Shooting Info: Nikon D7100 with Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG HSM OS @ 500mm, 1/800s, f/8, ISO 800
Shot in Aperture Priority Mode with Spot Metering |
The peregrine is a very fast, strong and agile flier that has been known to reach more than 300 km/hr in its hunting stoop (high speed dive). For this reason, it is considered to be the fastest animal in the animal kingdom. Peregrines prey upon mostly medium sized birds but, on occasion, will also prey on small mammals, reptiles and insects. It pursues it's prey in the open, normally diving from great heights. The peregrine strikes its prey in mid air with clenched talons stunning or killing it. It will then turn around to grab it and carry it off for feeding. If the prey is too large or heavy to be carried, the peregrine will allow it to fall to the ground to kill and feed upon it.
Peregrine falcons became endangered due to the use of pesticides such as DDT. These pesticides are stored in body fat and accumulate. Due to the peregrine being an apex predator, sitting at the top of the food chain, the effects of these pesticides are maginifed as they eat other birds with these pesticides in their fat tissues. These pesticides caused a reduction of calcium in eggshells resulting in very thin and fragile eggs. They were so delicate that the weight of the parents alone was enough to break the eggs when they attempted to incubate them. With a very high loss of eggs, the number of peregrines dwindled. Once the pesticides were banned and protection measures were put in place by legistations such as the USA's Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Canada's Species At Risk Act (SARA), their numbers increased to the point that they were removed from the Endangered Species List. Although they are no longer considered endangered in North America, they, along with other birds of prey, continue to be protected by the Migratory Bird Act.
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Peregrine Falcon (juvenile female)
Shooting Info: Nikon D7100 with Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG HSM OS @ 500mm, 1/640s, f/8, ISO 500
Shot in Manual Mode with Spot Metering |
The Peregrine falcon is an incredible bird and I was extremely excited to have come across this juvenile female at a local park and to have had the opportunity to photograph her. While out walking on one of the trails, I noticed her bathing (looked more like playing) in the lake. I walked over to get a better look, making sure to keep a respectable distance, and watched as she stomped and splashed at the water's edge. To my surprise, she flew and landed right in front of me. I was able to only get a few shots in before she flew over my head to land on a pole a few hundred meters away. The pole she landed on was by a trail and I was able to spend some more time photographing her as she preened her feathers and dried off. It was an incredible experience for me.
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Peregrine Falcon (juvenile female)
Shooting Info: Nikon D7100 with Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG HSM OS @ 500mm, 1/640s, f/8, ISO 500
Shot in Manual Mode with Spot Metering |
The photos were shot in February using a Nikon D7100 and Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 APO DG HSM OS. The first photo of the peregrine was handheld but I used a tripod for the photos of her on the pole. When I happened upon her by the water's edge, there was no time to set up my tripod so I just fired off a few frames. While she was on the pole drying off, there was plenty of time to set up my tripod and to observe her as she dried and preened her feathers.
