mind blowing falcon and goshawk video

[Nordic]

Growing up, I always had a thing for birds of prey, especially the falcons, and especially the peregrine falcon, the fastest bird on the planet.

Well someone finally figured out how to attach a video camera to one of these critters, and you can now see the peregrine's point of view as it flies around, goes into its stoops, etc.

Then they did it with the goshawk, which is a bird that lives in woodlands and has an astonishing ability to fly through dense forest at incredibly high speeds.

A buddy sent me this link, and I just have to share it with everybody. It's truly incredible.

[Peregrine]

Yeah, that's some amazing footage. They're such aerial daredevils. I was obsessed with birds of prey when I was living in Alberta, I went out of the city to photograph them (unfortunately, my ex husband got all the photos). I love how Peregrines turn into little bullets & fold their wings up!

[Stephen Morgan]

Montagu's hawk is the fastest bird on the planet.

[Peregrine]

Well, I beg to differ...

[Nordic]

Well it's called Montagu's Harrier, and I don't see how any Harrier could be anywhere near as fast as a falcon. That being said, if it's not a Harrier and is in fact misnamed for some reason, I don't see any claim anywhere, except by yourself, that it's the fastest bird on the planet.

I love birds of prey and I'm not sure why I do so much. When I was a kid I stole a European Kestrel from its nest and raised it, my goal to be a falconer. I think I was 12 when I did this. I don't know why my parents put up with it. A couple of summers later, a buddy of mine and I in upstate New York stole a broad-winged hawk from its nest and raised it. I always wanted a peregrine, wanted one really badly, never found one nesting anywhere. A prairie falcon would have sufficed I suppose ... and of course the Gyrfalcon would have been the ultimate bird in so many ways.

They still thrill me, and if I were wealthy I would probably be a falconer (among other things).

[Peregrine]

Regardless, it sure is a pretty bird in flight... Never heard of them before.



Yeah, if I had the cash I'd probably sign up for falconry lessons myself.

[smiths]

the narrator says at the end that scientists have concluded that no aeroplane comes close to this kind of maneuverability,

no shit

[seemslikeadream]

One afternoon I was in the parking lot of Walmart. All of a sudden a male pheasant falls from the sky right next to me and then a hawk swoops down and tries to grab it again. The pheasant is running around in between cars with the hawk chasing it. Two beautiful birds. Really cool to watch from a front row seat.

[Nordic]

I had an incredible experience one day fishing on the dock which juts out into the lake in front of my Dad's house in rural Minnesota.

All the sudden these fish went crazy, little fish darting around everywhere, some of them leaping out of the water, in a complete panic. I look down to see what the cause of this is, and a loon is flying through the water, chasing them!

The damn bird could fly underwater, REALLY fast! It was trying to eat the fish.

It was a spectacular site, happened literally right under my nose!

Loons are beautiful birds, too, predators like the birds of prey.

[norton ash]

Loons are beautiful birds, too, predators like the birds of prey.

Meanwhile, in that big restaurant called the circle of life, ducklings and loon chicks are prey for pike and muskie.

[Perelandra]

Apparently, falconry-based bird abatement is a growth industry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_abatement

[semper occultus]

I love birds of prey and I'm not sure why I do so much. When I was a kid I stole a European Kestrel from its nest and raised it, my goal to be a falconer.

...ever see this ?



www.amazon.co.uk

[Nordic]

I love birds of prey and I'm not sure why I do so much. When I was a kid I stole a European Kestrel from its nest and raised it, my goal to be a falconer.

...ever see this ?



www.amazon.co.uk

No! Haven't even heard of it. Thanks for the rec! Sounds awesome.

[Nordic]

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/1 ... ograp.html

Wanted to share these and this seemed like a logical thread in which to do so.

Amazing photos!

[AhabsOtherLeg]

I love birds of prey and I'm not sure why I do so much. When I was a kid I stole a European Kestrel from its nest and raised it, my goal to be a falconer.

...ever see this ?



www.amazon.co.uk

No! Haven't even heard of it. Thanks for the rec! Sounds awesome.

You're kidding? Nordic, you have to watch that! Peregrine, you do too, even though it's about a Kestrel! Everybody has to watch that film. It's not optional.

I posted a vid from it in the thread after Peregrine became a mod, thinking the reference would be obvious. It probably just seemed weird. Perhaps that happens a lot.

Anyways, you's all have to watch Kes, and kudos to Semper for recommending it.



Might be hard to understand for all them furners in here. It's as much about social realism as falconry. Ken Loach. Great film.