Peregrines and peewees

A pair of peewees hang around the back yard from time to time.  I suspect they nest close by, maybe in the massive pine tree that grows up against the back of the house and seems to provide nesting for a lot of birds.
I was hanging out the clothes on the back veranda the other morning when the entire bird population began making a terrible fuss.
Then a peregrine falcon shot down into the leaf litter under the mango tree.  They are so fast I wasn't even sure it was a peregrine until I saw her standing under the tree.  Her feathers were all flattened and she held her wings out as birds do when they are stressed.  Even from the 15 metres I was away from her I could see she was panting.  I avoided looking directly at her so as not to increase her stress.
When I peeked again I saw she had settled down.  Other predatory birds were wheeling around in the sky - another peregrine - perhaps her mate, a few crows, a hawk up high.  So I looked closely at the peregrine and saw that she had something in her claws, half buried in the leaf litter.  It was a young peewee.
Years ago I saw a peregrine take a baby dove as its parents were teaching it to fly and I suspect the same thing happened with the peewee.
I can not help but be impressed by the strength and speed of peregrines.  A peewee is quite a decent size for the falcon to catch, although they are reputed to catch rabbits in southern Australia.  Peregrines grab their prey while flying at about 300 kms an hour so I guess the victim never knows what hit it.
I missed a great photo opportunity as the peregrine took ages to ready herself to fly off with her prey.  She lifted off the ground quite slowly but then was gone in a flash.  There was dead silence from the bird population for the rest of the morning.  I have not seen the adult peewees since.  Hopefully they are busy re-locating their nest.
Claire Wood
Just Claire Wood
email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com
longlines, In The Atmosphere
27th May 2012

Pied Heron

Pied Heron on Alert

The pied heron gets very little press up here in the warmer climes, perhaps because in its less stylish moments it could be mistaken for a bittern.  Perhaps because it is so very small, with feet that seem far too big and a bill that could easily fit a larger bird it is simply outshone by the more graceful members of its family.  But it is our heron, occurring only in northern Australia and southern New Guinea.  It is a self-contained demure bird with an elegant crest matching its slaty wings and body and with a crisp white throat and neck.  It is relaxing to sit by a shallow creek and watch it waiting, or splatting around in the water as the heat evaporates and the cool season moves in.

 Claire Wood

Just Claire Wood

Email:  JustClaireWood@gmail.com

See also longlines, In theAtmosphere

Friday, 11 May 2012