An Aplomado Falcon on the falconer's glove. Photo courtesy of the Raptor Project and SCBWF.
Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com.
Have you ever seen a bird of prey really close up? It’s amazing what clear, sharp eyes they have, and their talons are truly fearsome even if you’re not a rabbit. The most amazing thing about birds of prey is their ability to detect prey from a great distance and strike with incredible speed and precision.
If you’d like to get a great look at some beautiful hawks, falcons, owls and eagles you’ll want to attend the Raptor Project’s presentations at the 13th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival 2010, sponsored by Florida Power & Light. Founders Jonathan and Susan Wood are bringing 20 raptors to the Festival to give an educational presentation and live demonstration of the incredible abilities of raptors of all kinds. (Note: many of these birds are unable to be released into the wild because of permanent handicaps.)
Pictured above is the beautiful Aplomado falcon, described by Scott Weidensaul in his wonderful book “Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds“:
This spectacular, nonmigratory species once was found as far north as Texas and Arizona, but today it is uncommon even in its core range in Latin America. Aplomados are elegant birds–lead gray above, with a black “cummerbund” and cinnamon belly.
You don’t want to miss the Raptor Project if you admire birds of prey like I do.
Where: Broward Community College Titusville, Florida Campus Gymnatorium Stage.
Cost: Free (but each show is limited to 50 participants. Pre-registration required).
Showtimes:
- Thursday, January 28 at 12:00pm & 2:00pm
- Friday, January 29 at 9:30am, 1:00pm & 3:30pm
- Saturday, Jamuary 30 at 10:00am, & 2:00pm & 3:30pm
- Sunday, January 31 at 11:00am& 2:30pm
Jonathan Wood retrieves a falcon from flight. Photo courtesy of the Raptor Project and SCBWF.
FTC required disclosure: I receive compensation for writing about the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello,
I just returned from a stay on St. George Island. I am curious about a large bird I saw swoop by my screened porch. The bird may have been a peregrine falcon. It was not an eagle. The markings I saw was a underbelly of golden color, large dark wings and large talons…from my perspective. My thoughts were a large hawk but my friend said it was a falcon. Can you tell me what birds I may research that fit this description that are seen on St. Geroge Island? It was an exhiliterating experience.
Thanks,
Susan
Hi Susan. Yes seeing a large hawk flying nearby is exciting. Some possibilities: Cooper’s hawk or sharp-shinned hawk http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/accipiterIDtable.htm
Most likely, in my opinion, it was a red-shouldered hawk http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/lifehistory
Here is an adult red-shouldered hawk I photographed sitting in a tree on Sanibel Island: http://twitpic.com/rz5fa
We also saw a juvenile red-shouldered hawk hunting among the sea grapes and coconut palms above the sea oat-covered dunes on Sanibel Island in October. We don’t usually see hawks (other than ospreys) on the beach.
Could it have been a falcon? Yes, it could have been. Falcons have pointy wings, as opposed to the accipiters and buteos that have more rounded wingtips and wider wings. The underbelly of a golden color makes me think it is not a falcon.
Good luck figuring it out. Raptors can be a real challenge. There can be quite a bit of color variation among individuals regionally.