PRAIRIE FALCON: Stunning, Smart, Sleek as a Dart Painting

A young Prairie Falcon has set up shop high in a tangled mess of crossed branches in the big old cottonwood tree across the road. He arrived with two others in late July, and we heard them high above us before they did some lazy spins directly over the fallow field behind my house.The house and the field behind it rest on a long hill - and the trio swung down low enough that I realized they were a new species. I raced inside and up the stairs for binoculars, my dog with me and also excited, because at my age, racing up or down stairs has lost its charm. . Too small to be among the regular hawks, their spots were unusual, but it was their calls that got my attention, lower in pitch than the pattern I recognized, but these birds sounded like FALCONS and they were flying with the expertise of dive bombers. A dozen years ago when, believe it or not, I nursed a badly wounded lfledgling falcon through a disaster. He was brought to me covered with mud--so light that may has well have been floating. He was a survivor, the most sociable young bird I've ever known. He grew rapidly because he had a carefully planned diet, and by the time he was practicing short flights he was a stunning young fellow. He was as vocal as he was daring. The little kestrel lived for years under the the careful custody of the Bismarck Zoo, the only male among a number of females in his enclosues. Kestrels bond with commitment. The PRAIRIE FALCONS visiting this sparsely inhabited edge of town were quite possibly parents offering an escort one of their own, possibly offering a few additional tips such as, "Watch that dog because it is about to scare up your breakfast." All three were here for about a week, dissolving into the trees, some of which have platforms from vacant owl or squirrel nests. (There are no squirrels about.) I have witnesses to the following events: When I walked into the fields with the dog running around like a loose rocket, they would sometime call to each other, and always, one or more would move to another location, only to return as soon as we either passed by or turned for home. I suppose a coyote or fox might have taught them to pick up an easy snack. The two parents moved on in August. The young Falcon has apparently decided this is a suitable hangout for the time being. If we are very, very lucky, he may overwinter here. If he does, I will have to take measures to stop this county's habit of poisoning rodents (and any unfortunate natural predator that hunts them) and keep an eye out for hunters who will kill a bird before they know what it is called - This prince of the prairies is worth the effort. Check back for more Northern Plains wildlife and watercolor paintings, including landscapes and wildflowers, during the next few weeks. Thanks for looking. By the way, birds see more of the world than we ever do, and they have a lot to tell us if we listen.

Painting:Watercolor on Other

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:12 W x 16 H x 0.1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.