Two Peregrine Falcons
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:07 pmTaken way out west of Melbourne past Ballarat. This is the second time I've been out to where these Peregrines are. Thanks to Dave Burren for providing me with the information where to find them. The day was absolutely brilliant on Monday and it was the Builders Picnic Day so it was pretty much a day off so I decided to head out to where they were. I decided this time I would try with and without TC and check the results. I think my keeper ratio is getting better but not content yet with my flight shots. The juvenile in the bottom of this photo is getting to the age that it will leave the eyrie. It's been flying for the past 2-3 weeks. The first time I was out there it looked fairly new to flying but this time it looked confident. For most of the afternoon it was following Dad over the cliff faces expecting Dad to capture the food and to drop it to him mid flight. Peregrines usually by 6weeks are flying, by 12 they leave the eyrie. So I'm hoping to get out there again before it leaves, maybe it will be a bit late in leaving. Although Mum this time seemed to be ignoring both the Male and the Juvenile for most of the day, content on perching on a rocky outcrop on it's own.
While I would of liked this to occupy more of the frame I am trying to learn, and adopt some sort of ethics in regards to wildlife. Peregrines are very susceptable to disturbance from humans, animals and other variables. If they're disturbed during the leadup and during breeding (winter/spring) then they can leave their eyrie (their breeding territory) and never return. So as a result I'm going into their eyrie but not approaching them, their eyrie is frequented by humans a fairbit. Even by those taking their dogs for a walk, which is so typical of people nowadays even in parks that are clearly signposted as prohibited. So hopefully my actions won't distress them too much. I've decided I won't try to approach them and get closer but let them approach me. Which they usually do to try and evict me from their area. This second time though they weren't so disturbed I think. Would be nice to setup a birdhide and get some close perched shots. But that will have to wait until I have a hide
Nikon D70, 500F4 AFSII (no tc), G1325 + Wimberley
ISO 400, 1/1250, F6.3, Manual, 40% crop
While I would of liked this to occupy more of the frame I am trying to learn, and adopt some sort of ethics in regards to wildlife. Peregrines are very susceptable to disturbance from humans, animals and other variables. If they're disturbed during the leadup and during breeding (winter/spring) then they can leave their eyrie (their breeding territory) and never return. So as a result I'm going into their eyrie but not approaching them, their eyrie is frequented by humans a fairbit. Even by those taking their dogs for a walk, which is so typical of people nowadays even in parks that are clearly signposted as prohibited. So hopefully my actions won't distress them too much. I've decided I won't try to approach them and get closer but let them approach me. Which they usually do to try and evict me from their area. This second time though they weren't so disturbed I think. Would be nice to setup a birdhide and get some close perched shots. But that will have to wait until I have a hide
Nikon D70, 500F4 AFSII (no tc), G1325 + Wimberley
ISO 400, 1/1250, F6.3, Manual, 40% crop
