This American Kestrel was either hunting or trying not to be
hunted. Either situation made him
very focused on his surroundings. He nervously scanned the sky, while at the same time contending
with another problem…wind.
My presence didn’t seem to bother him, as he was quite comfortable
being photographed if I kept a respectable distance, but the wind was tiring
him. He struggled to remain
balanced on a branch as a strong, 25 MPH wind blew in his face.
It took all his strength to hold on, while being bounced and
buffeted. When he felt
it wasn’t worth it any longer, he left for a more sheltered hunting spot, one even closer
to me.
The American Kestrel can be seen perched on a wire in rural
America or hovering on a gentle wind
over a grassy field. That’s where they live and hunt. They prey upon mice,
voles, grasshoppers, beetles and bats. He's a hunter, when he is not the prey. He has enemies too and he’s not very big.
The American Kestrel is our smallest falcon, Although a fierce
fighter for his size, he's delicate too. He’s
no match for hawks, owls or even a snake, if he picks-on the wrong snake. Choosing
wisely and being aware of his surroundings kept this American Kestrel safe today. There were kestrel-hunters out there in
the desert, so he wasn’t letting his guard down.
While holding on tightly as the wind tried to blow him off
his branch, he took on a more windswept look.
They normally have a more rounded, plump look. They’re similar in size and shape to a
Mourning Dove or Rock Dove (pigeon). True to form or not, the wind provided a
nice opportunity to see this colorful bird more clearly. As he leaned into the wind and fanned his tail for balance and stability, he provided me with a nice picture opportunity.
He brought balance to his life and made my day, too!
Allan
No comments:
Post a Comment