Peregrine Falcon - Skills development

[Dinusaur]

Over a course about 6 week period I have had the occasional opportunity to observe and photograph a family of Peregrine Falcons made up of two adults and three fledglings by the Burlington Lift Bridge. Last two week-ends only two juveniles are seen, third one is presumed lost (no surprises given that their mortality rate is 70%). Approximately two weeks after they fledged, I've observed an interesting behavior of all three juveniles. They would fly towards a tree top with talons stretched, tear off leaves from the tree and then discard the leaves a little later. Here's a sequence of shots of one of the juveniles practicing hunting skills while in flight. As of last week-end they still seem to be dependent on their parents for food. Hope one of these days I get to see the juveniles catching their own prey and fully prepared to face migration and adulthood.






As it flew overhead one could clearly see the leaves in its talons.

[Ally]

Wow, such wonderful captures of the neat observations!

[orchidpoet]

That is truly amazing that you captured the practice!