Bird's gotta eat...

[Michael Mouravi]

In my backyard...

http://tarkhan-mouravi.com/gallery/albums/misc/hawklunch.jpg

http://tarkhan-mouravi.com/gallery/albums/misc/hawklunch2.jpg

http://tarkhan-mouravi.com/gallery/albums/misc/hawkbye.jpg

[Asher Kelman]

Amazing!

Michael, are you going to be able to keep track of this particular hawk, or was this just a chance occurence?

asher

[Michael Mouravi]

Asher, I've seen it twice before when he was a juvenile - once in April and then in May. He will probably hang out here for quite a while as I understand they are highly territorial.

Here's him in April:
http://tarkhan-mouravi.com/gallery/albums/misc/c1hawk3.jpg

And in May:
http://tarkhan-mouravi.com/gallery/albums/misc/hawk8.jpg

[Don Cohen]

Great captures - and in your own backyard, no less! I've shot a bluebird with a grub in its mouth in my backyard, but nothing like this!

Thanks for sharing.

[Asher Kelman]

Now for the nitty, gritty: how did you take the shots? We all don't have Hawks in our back yard, still...

Asher

[Charles L Webster]

Excellent captures. Thanks for sharing.

Can you send him my way, we're being overrun w/ squirrels this year ;-)

[Michael Mouravi]

Asher, Canon 1D MarkIIn with 70-200 2.8L IS - basically what was closest to the door. Surprisingly he let me get pretty close, maybe 5 feet or so.

ISO 400, 1/160s, f/4.5

[Asher Kelman]

I found this interesting reference to a Flickr set of pictures:

"I saw this same thing this summer at my local zoo. The pelican tried to eat a duck, the kids were freaking. The duck eventually got away, but not before I got some pictures."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gfroese/sets/72157594188510899/

[Don Ferguson Jr.]

Michael,
These are incredible shots well done .I love the majestic wings of flight you portrayed with the
red tail hawks flying off with the squirrel.
You are gonna laugh because I had not seen yours before I put mine on ,and I was able to get within 5 feet as well.
My little 17-85 did pretty well but even if I had a 70-200 I do not know if I could have done as well as your excellent capture!
Regards
Don

[Steve Fines]

Hello,

The shot from April is really top notch. Great framing, bokeh, look.

[Mike Spinak]

Michael,

Great captures. I especially like the second one down in the first post.

Mike

www.mikespinak.com

[Asher Kelman]

I'm interested in what happens to the rest of the body of the aquirrel.

Are the raptors able to pierce the skulls of these creatures or is this left for bugs to recycle.

Do any creatures eat the skin?

I've never seen empty squirrels lying around!

Asher

[Mike Spinak]

Asher,

Adult raptors can eat the whole rodent, skin, bones, and all.

Mike

www.mikespinak.com

[Ray West]

Hi Mike,

do they regurgitate the bones, etc. as 'pellets', as do owls?

Best wishes,

Ray

(note in a local parish magazine - 'The vicar would like to mention to the members of the congregation, that the collecting bowl at the doorway, labelled 'for the sick', is for monetary donations only.' )

[Mike Spinak]

Yes, I think so.



Mike

www.mikespinak.com

[Michael Mouravi]

Asher, that gray thing you see in the bottom of the second picture is a "furball" the hawk has just coughed out - bon appetit everyone :)