chapter 394
7/30/2015
Peregrine Falcon
faster than a speeding bullet
Fastest animal on the planet. Clocked at 230 mph in a dive this Peregrine Falcon is highlight of my wildlife photographic career. Lucky to catch her standing in place. These beautiful Peregrines have recovered some from their prior DDT affected days.
When I quietly approached this ledge from kayak I spotted the Peregrine flying overhead. She silently landed on the left side and walked up over her nest seemingly checking it out then taking a position away from the nest, remaining there watching me for a half hour.
Cornell says they don't do nest building but just scrape off an area in the cliffs but there are sticks in this nest. Maybe they took over an owl's nest?
Have been trying to capture them for a few years at this spot three miles from home on the high cliffs of the Mohawk River. Focusing was a challenge with the wind and waves, bobbing up and down trying to zoom to maximum focal length and changing exposure modes waiting for more sun. This shot a few years earlier, overcast on actual Falcon day.
related:
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