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Brown Falcon

Brown Falcon (Image ID 47407)
Photographed byMichael Hamel-Green on Thu 29th Jul, 2021 and uploaded on Sun 1st Aug, 2021 .
Resolution1800x1205
Viewed112
ID47407
CommentI came across this handsome Brown Falcon perched on a post in the Western Lagoon part of the Werribee Treatment Plant. It was a gusty morning and the wind was catching its feathers. I did not notice it at the time but when I looked more closely at the image later, the Falcon appears to be one-legged. Possibly it was just a case of the Falcon tucking one leg under its feathers on a bitingly cold morning. Apparently birds such as raptors, stilts, waders, geese and ducks can save up to 50% heat loss from unfeathered legs in chilly conditions by tucking one leg into their trouser pockets. Who needs mittens when you have built-in downy leg-warmers? Certainly it showed no difficulty in flying, taking off shortly after I took the photo. On the other hand, it is also possible that the Falcon lost a leg in a trap or predator attack. Unfortunately, I have all too frequently seen various injuries in looking closely at some of the images of birds I have photographed, such as fishing line or wire in beaks or wings, or unusual protuberances. Where an injury is immobilizing a bird, there is sometimes time to call Wildlife Rescue, but often an injured bird will continue to be mobile and difficult or impossible to locate. Some injuries will be inevitable but many, I suspect, are due to human activities, our failure to control feral cats, or pest-control trapping or poisoning practices that end up killing or maiming natural predators of the pests. It does not bear thinking about the agony this Falcon would have experienced if it did indeed lose its leg. What does, of course, bear thinking about is how we can change the thoughtless policies and practices that are injuring and decimating so many bird and other species. Handsome bird, ugly threats. A raptor’s life is not an easy one.
EquipmentNikon Z7ii, Nikon 500mm PF f5.6
ISO 800
1/4000th f5.6
LocationWestern Lagoon, Werribee Treatment Plant, Victoria
Keywordsadult
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