Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jan 28, 2008 19:38:17 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Just got back from the Raptor Center. Tried to photograph our new Bald Eagle but the pics didn't come out. Something going on with the flash I guess. I'll have to pull out my instructions Anyway, here are a couple of pics of some birds you don't see that often: Thanks for looking....mel Jackson the Ferruginous Hawk: The new bird I'm spending a lot of training time on now. Rio, the Harris' Hawk. This is a southwestern species and is the only hawk that commonly hunts in packs: Again, I apologize for the lack of a flash which make cage pics tough. This is one of our monsters, Shytan, the Golden eagle. I'll use a flash next time I promise *S*.
|
|
rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by rallyrocks on Jan 28, 2008 19:42:13 GMT -5
Hi Mel, Is that Ferruginous Hawk a local California guy? I saw a bird that looked a lot like that this weekend. Nice pictures though, even without the flash in the jail there- that golden eagle is an impressive bird!
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jan 28, 2008 19:48:14 GMT -5
Rally: Yep, they're not common but we have them in California. I see more of them in the central valley than anywhere else. They're larger than a Redtail and with that white underside and red chaps on long legs it's pretty easy to recognize one. Yes, Shytan is a big guy. 3" talons and a foot almost as large as my hand. He's quite a character too. Likes to come over to the bars and have little chats. He's one of my favorite fellows!...Mel
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Jan 28, 2008 20:26:19 GMT -5
oh wow, what gorgeous birds! Rio's wing looks like it could be a cab. um.....ok, i'm obsessing.
i, for one, would never tire of your birdie photos, Mel. please post some more. flash or no flash.
KD
|
|
Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
|
Post by Terry664 on Jan 28, 2008 21:16:35 GMT -5
I agree with KD would never tire of birdie pictures. Terry
|
|
Slydog
has rocks in the head
Member since February 2006
Posts: 555
|
Post by Slydog on Jan 28, 2008 21:49:43 GMT -5
I did not know that any hawks hunted in 'packs', pretty interesting. I've seen Goldens in the Wind River/Owl Creek Mts area and a few other places in WY. Had one follow me along a treeline when I had a Weim pup out there hunting. The pup was knee high, I don't know if the bird was watching the pup or waiting for her to kick up a pheasant---but it sure was fun to watch that bird! Talk about intense---
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Jan 28, 2008 22:03:38 GMT -5
Cool pics Mel!
|
|
MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
|
Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Jan 28, 2008 22:03:51 GMT -5
What beautiful creatures.... even more so in flight.. You sure are lucky Mel to see them up close... and I love the idea of the hawks hunting in packs.. that's crazy Wild! Give them my hello's ..
*smiles*
|
|
karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
|
Post by karenfh on Jan 28, 2008 22:37:10 GMT -5
Very cool pix! So that's a Golden Banded Bandit Eagle, LOL! He's amazing, even with the stripes! And I have seen hawks kinda sorta hunt in packs, at harvest time. It's a little eerie, driving down a country road, and seeing a hawk on each and every fence post! We counted 27 in a mile... Very interesting, usually we don't see hawks that close to each other! Thanks again for your amazing pix, and for what you do.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jan 28, 2008 22:56:27 GMT -5
Roxy : If you go with Jamie on the next Woodward trip keep your eyes open. I saw lots of Harris' Hawks in southwest and central Texas. They should be around a bit in southern Arizona too but not as common as they prefer open mesquite country. Really spectacular in the wild as their behavior is like that of flying coyotes. They take turns flushing and driving prey from cover and making the kill and actually share the kill which is very unusual for raptors....mel
|
|
|
Post by Titania on Jan 29, 2008 7:41:57 GMT -5
Gorgeous birds! Thanks for sharing the pics, flash or not. I really wish we had eagles here. We have turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks (which are pretty awesome in their own right....we have one who lives on our street).
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Jan 29, 2008 9:34:29 GMT -5
Beautiful birds. Tami
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Jan 29, 2008 11:38:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the pics Mel. Jackson has a very regal posture. What a beautiful bird. I've never seen a golden up close, just overhead as they migrate south, they are BIG birds.
|
|
chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
|
Post by chinook203 on Jan 30, 2008 13:07:38 GMT -5
I looooooove the pics, need to dig out my eagle pics I took at a rehab center in St. Louis. You are sooooo lucky to get to work with them. We have a pair of Swanson's hawks that nest in my front yard, just love them! Sandy
|
|
|
Post by larrywyland3 on Jan 30, 2008 14:06:18 GMT -5
Great pics; thanks for sharing.
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
|
Post by Sabre52 on Jan 30, 2008 19:25:43 GMT -5
Sandy: We have a Swainson's named Kramer cause he's a goofy little fellow. First hawk I ever trained with. Amazingly sweet and gentle creature for a bird of prey and very chatty too. Kramer hardly ever shuts up *L*....Mel
|
|