Lee's Photoblog
Death From Above
Posted by Lee (Fort Frances Ontario, Canada) on 18 April 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
This is a shot from last winter. Gyrfalcons migrate south from the arctic expanses to our neck of the woods. They seem to like the urban centres. Lots of fat pigeons. You always know when the gyrfalcons are hunting. The pigeons all cower together in a massive bunch on the hydro wires. When the predator comes close they fly in a thick flock. These pigeons were flying frantically. I did not manage to see a kill or strike. They disappeared out of range. The falcons usually show up around December if they're going to. They depart in late March or early April.
Thank you for visiting my site. I consider myself to be lucky living where I do. Everyday I wake up to a wealth of interesting visual scenarios. Most of my pictures are Wildlife and Nature taken from around the area. The area specifically being Fort Frances Ontario on beautiful Rainy Lake. Feel free to comment on what you see. I look forward to hearing from you. If you like what you see, please rate it. Better yet, bookmark the site and drop back often. I will be posting daily.
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@Saeed Rasoulof: Thank you very much.
Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States
Excellent capture! and thanks for the info, it's nice to know the story of the photograph.
18 Apr 2009 5:50am
@Tracy: Thanks Tracy.
@eva: Thank you Eva.
zOOm from Paris, France
Very interesting shot on an birds point of view of course but also because it visually eye-catching. Graphic.
18 Apr 2009 6:25am
@zOOm: Thank you Florence. It was and is a sight to behold. The pigeons are just frantic when this happens.
Lylou & Roland from France
Really impressive ! they are millions... And they to the travel every year from north to south and back... Great Nature !
18 Apr 2009 6:39am
@Lylou & Roland: Thank you.
@jamesy: Yes and all bunched together because one hungry Gyrfalcon.
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
WOW!!!! A perfect capture!!! You got all the pigions and the predatory falcon...cool!!! I don't think I would like to see a kill tho!! Thank you for the information...I learn so much from am3, not only about photography either:-)
18 Apr 2009 8:36am
@Linerberry: Am3 is a great and marvelous exhibition tool. I thank it founders for this opportunity not only to exhibit, but also to view and learn from others. BTW, thanks for the compliment.
@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine, and fly they did.
Sarah from Suisse, Switzerland
Terrific shot, Lee and appreciated knowing the info you added.
18 Apr 2009 9:02am
@Sarah: Thank you Sarah.
@Linda: Thank you.
Eric Cousineau from Sherwood Park, Canada
Well seen and captured Lee! Not thinking of doing a remake of The Birds are you? LOL ;-))
18 Apr 2009 11:22am
@Eric Cousineau: Might be a possibility Eric. I will have to acquire a video camera first. Thank you for the compliment and humour.
Marion from Cincinnati, United States
a great spectacle you get to witness! Your neck of the woods truly offers everything - doesn't it! :) I watched a documentary last night about the a guy in Alaska who lives with bears. It was very interesting and amazing and I thought about you! :)
18 Apr 2009 11:49am
@Marion: Thanks Marion. Yes there is a lot to see around here. I go for a drive for a while, the while turns into all day. This time of year it gets very exciting. I hope that guy was not the one who was eaten by the grizzly bear. I am not that brave or stupid. But thank you for thinking of me.
@Mary: Thank you very much
Don from spokane, United States
A fine capture of nature's drama between the hunter and the hunted. I enjoyed reading your comment about the falcon's behavior.
18 Apr 2009 2:26pm
@Don: Thank you Don, I appreciate it.
Ca†≈ from Ouchy, Switzerland
What will be sky without birds ?
It makes me thinking of Hitchcock !
18 Apr 2009 2:45pm
@Ca†≈: Thank you, yes it does.
Ajay from Pune, India
Now that's a framing worth millions. Especially because it's a difficult one for the moving subjects
18 Apr 2009 3:02pm
@Ajay: Thanks Ajay.
"Marie" :-) from perth, Australia
This made me think of Alfred Hitchcok's Birds too. Great photo, lovely shot. Have a great weekend.
18 Apr 2009 3:11pm
@"Marie" :-): Thanks Marie. You have a great weekend also.
Veronique from Sarrouilles, France
Very interesting shot, impressive too. I didn't know falcons migrated neither that there were some in artic. So much things to learn still... Have a nice WE
18 Apr 2009 5:35pm
@Veronique: This was a Gyrfalcon. And yes they do migrate, especially when food sources are scarce in the north.
@mats: Yes fly pigeons, fly. Unfortunately, we all know one of them didn't make it.
@Lesley: Thanks Lesley.
