Ah! One of my favorite birds of prey.
This one is very difficult to get on camera, as even the doves cannot avoid his strike. I tried several times before, but always too fast for me.
It is a hawk in the Accipiter family that landed with a dove in its claws. For the life of me, I cannot find the specie name of the hawk, but I think it might be a Sparrow Hawk. Immediately the hawk started to strip the dove's feathers, and I have seen the mess of feathers that they leave behind, when they fly up into a tree to eat their prey.
The hawk knew that I was watching it, but I kept a distance, and I got it on my camera zoom. One has to be very careful and very slow moving around these guys, as a quick movement will result in a sudden disappearance of the hawk. I had to learn this the hard way, as in the early days I was over eager, and many great shots have vanished into the sky.
The hawk kept a continuous watch, as it knew something that I didn't know. But you will see the something below in the second part of this post.
Way too fast for me, as the hawk suddenly took off, but I managed to get the dove in the hawk's claws. Poor thing.
This was the something that the hawk was watching.
I know it very well as it is a Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus).
It appeared in the sky above the trees, and had the buzzard seen the hawk it would have been sure to lose its prey to the buzzard.
Some sunlight behind the buzzard, to end the show and the hawk was safe with its prey.
Much like life, isn't it? As when one makes a big score then soon the human vultures will circle around to take a cut of the score. What I have noticed in life, is that one is very popular when one has much to give, but as the stuff hits the fan then all the "friends" disappear. I have seen this, many times in my own life, and learned how to avoid the good time friends.
Nature has its own way to control the wildlife populations. As you can imagine what would have happened if there were to be no birds of prey. We will be drowned in flocks of doves and other small birds. So, birds of prey are only one way to control the population as there are also many other types of predators, and over time a population balance was achieved.
Such is life.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.
Photos by Zac Smith. All-Rights-Reserved.
Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.
Thank you kindly for supporting this post.
perfect shots...
Thank you :)
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Thank you kindly :)
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Although it was difficult, you managed to capture it perfectly. I feel sorry for the pigeon that fell victim to it.
Thank you, and yes one bird has to die to feed the young of the others.
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That line about the hawk keeping one eye on the sky because the Jackal Buzzard could steal the prize really sticks, it explains the strange stillness you describe. Your take about big scores pulling in human vultures is painfully true, some days it feels like they arrive quicker than tax time :) I like how you learned to slow down for the shots, patience is a muscle and and you flex it well. The feathers was harsh to read, but its part of the balance you remind us about, and I dont blame the hawk.
When I was little, I used to feed and train young hawks. When they got a little older, I could see how fierce they were. They're a pretty easy predator to train.
Great that you know all about hawks, as I prefer to leave them in the wild :)
You managed to capture it perfectly.
Thank you for the compliment :)
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I’ve only ever seen hawks from far away, so this was awesome to read and see.
Glad that you liked the post.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/birdwatching/comments/1o00ugh/wild_instinct_the_hawk_and_its_prey/
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The hawk is really observant and like knows that someone is watching him. But even that, you took beautiful pictures of the hawk.
Birds of prey are all observant when they catch something to eat, as there are many predators that can come and steal their food.
Glad that you liked the pictures.
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It's hard to capture birds specially they don't stay at one place but Im glad that you had the best timing to captured them.You have a better skills in photography continue doing it.
Love the photo where the hawk are free flying above the blue sky.
Yes, it is hard to get the birds on camera, but one just has to learn the processes, as then it becomes easier.
That was a different bird, and he wanted to steal the hawk's food.
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Everything takes process and practice makes perfect hehehe.You inspired me to do better in photography.I mean I'm interested in it.But I still don't have any idea how to be good at it.hehehe