I love to identify all different kinds of birds when I am out walking. Even when I am driving around, I look to the skies and to the trees for different species. In addition, we have a terrific bird feeder just outside the kitchen window that attracts all kinds of beautiful birds. We regularly have wood peckers, including Red-bellied, Hairy, Downy and Flickers. We see Blue Jays and Cardinals, Nuthatches, Black Capped Chickadees, Grosbeaks and so many more.
Imagine my excitement when I pulled in my driveway and saw a Merlin sitting in the snow by my bird feeder. He was magnificent. I quickly ran into the house and pulled out my camera to get a picture.
The bird watching geek in me actually spent some time inspecting the carnage to try and determine what kind of bird ended up to be this falcon's "lunch".
I may need a new hobby!
Did I tell you I got to pet a red tailed falcon a couple of weeks ago? They are amazing birds of prey and the woman that brought her to the event I was at, had to be licensed to own and train her, she was wonderful to listen to about the falcons. They train them and reward with quail feathers. The falcon will eat the quail feathers, not fill up but cough the feathers up later and be ready to hunt the next day. The female falcons are larger than male falcons.
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