(Please don't continue reading this if seeing prey disturbs you)
After my recent experience with an Australian Hobby, the last thing I was expecting was another close encounter as it had been a lo ng time since the previous close encounter. But, driving along the road from work to where I was staying for the night this week, I came across another hobby sitting in a roadside tree, enjoying a meal.
The Brown Falcon photos were taken a few weeks ago in the same area. I'm not sure what the hobby was eating, but the falcon had recently caught a Centralian Blue-tongue and couldn't fly off with it as it was too heavy. I saw this sight after stopping for a quick look around a ridge above where the photos were taken. I hadn't even noticed the falcon, but as I was returning to the car, it must have moved as something caught my eye. At first I was a bit stunned to see the falcon just sitting there, only 20 metres or so away from me. They normally fly off, and then I noticed the prey underneath.
Waaaah! Very sad to see, yet also very interesting. Well done.
(Why can't they just eat rats and snakes and Indian Minahs?)
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
Wow, what else can I say. Absolutely stunning, great work. That should be enough of a meal for a few days.
M-L
Thanks M-L, I was reading something about Black-breasted Buzzards the other day and it was saying that birds of prey only eat what they need, they never over-eat as they would become too heavy and therefore vulnerable themselves. I left the falcon alone so I have no idea how much it had then and whether it took the remains somewhere for later. (Just had an image of it flying back to the nesting site, opening the fridge, and calling out that dinner was sorted for the next few days! :-) ) Richard.
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
Fabulous shots Richard.
Yes nature is incredibly cruel at times, but I think it is important that we see images like these. I find it fascinating that people LOVE birds of prey etc despite this - we have been blown away by how thrilled people are that Powerful Owls eat possums!
It is what they have to do, they can't exactly go to Aldi's and take it back to the nest in a green bag. It's what we had to do before Aldi
M-L
It is saddening to see beautiful life destroyed for food, but its what we do ourselves, and we do much much more damage to wild life than wild life does to itself, and we do it for self gain, not for food.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Richard WOW what awesome photos, thanks for posting them. Gotta eat what is around and yes nature can be cruel but thats life.
Thank you ,I enjoy the shots of the Brown Falcon with the blue tongue.
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
Wow Richard, what a week you have had with BOP. Wonderful shots of both birds, and as for the prey...well that is unfortunate but it is the circle of life out in the wild. I never begrudge them their feed even if it is something I like . Thanksk for the great shots of something many of us would never see
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Well said Karen, I couldn't agree more.
If I may put your comments another way "Humans are the only animals that poo in their own nest."
Doug.
Great shots RJ.
There were a few resident Brown Falcons near the Yulara Resort when I worked there a few years back. You always knew if one was about because all the other birds would flee in panic.