Aplomado Falcons!!!!!
This was the absolute highlights of our trip to Texas for me! When we visited in 2017, we spent a good amount of time looking for these Aplomado Falcons and found them a couple of times but no great photos to be had on that trip. Still such a major thrill to finally see them that year. This year's encounter has made up for every trip and every mile we searched in vain looking for them in the five previous years!!
We found them in nearly the exact location as in 2017. It was overcast and windy as hell but they were hunkered down and we used the car as a blind. So amazing. I still remember every detail.
I am so behind in my Texas photos but today is the perfect day for posting these beautiful little falcons. There is reason to celebrate even more in that this week (June 5, 2019), the 500th Aplomado Falcon nestling was banded in South Texas since 1995!!! This is such fantastic news as a mere 24 years ago, this falcon was extirpated (extinct from part of its original range) in the US from loss of habitat and likely climate change.
The Peregrine Fund started releasing captive-bred juveniles. Artificial nesting platforms were innovated to keep Great Horned Owls from preying on the Aplomado nestlings, habitat was managed to provide better natural nesting sites, and partnerships were formed with state agencies and landowners to ensure success. I would definitely call this a HUGE SUCCESS!!! This article made me so very happy.
www.birdwatchingdaily.com/news/conservation/500th-aplomad...
Aplomado Falcons!!!!!
This was the absolute highlights of our trip to Texas for me! When we visited in 2017, we spent a good amount of time looking for these Aplomado Falcons and found them a couple of times but no great photos to be had on that trip. Still such a major thrill to finally see them that year. This year's encounter has made up for every trip and every mile we searched in vain looking for them in the five previous years!!
We found them in nearly the exact location as in 2017. It was overcast and windy as hell but they were hunkered down and we used the car as a blind. So amazing. I still remember every detail.
I am so behind in my Texas photos but today is the perfect day for posting these beautiful little falcons. There is reason to celebrate even more in that this week (June 5, 2019), the 500th Aplomado Falcon nestling was banded in South Texas since 1995!!! This is such fantastic news as a mere 24 years ago, this falcon was extirpated (extinct from part of its original range) in the US from loss of habitat and likely climate change.
The Peregrine Fund started releasing captive-bred juveniles. Artificial nesting platforms were innovated to keep Great Horned Owls from preying on the Aplomado nestlings, habitat was managed to provide better natural nesting sites, and partnerships were formed with state agencies and landowners to ensure success. I would definitely call this a HUGE SUCCESS!!! This article made me so very happy.
www.birdwatchingdaily.com/news/conservation/500th-aplomad...