With what is going on in the world today, a few of us are feeling a little hawkish, but instead of acting on these feelings in some bellicose way, we’ve decided to channel that angst into these images of lovely North American raptors. These are color lithographs from our 1907 edition of Bird-Life, A Guide to the Study of our Common Birds, by American ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, with illustrations by the English-Canadian-American wildlife artist Ernest Thompson Seton, published in New York by D. Appleton and Company. Shown here from top to bottom:
American Kestrel(Falco sparverius), identified here as a Sparrow Hawk.
While all are “hawkish,” their familial relationships aren’t always straightforward. Of the birds shown here, all are in the order of Accipitriformes, except for the American Kestrel which is in the entirely separate order of Falconiformes. The rest are in the family Accipitridae, except the Osprey, which is in the family Pandionidae. Of the remaining Accipritidae in this group, all are in different sub-families and genera and … oh the family politics!
We just hope that your own hawkishness is spent contemplating the beauty and grace of this very diverse group of birds.
Adventures of Tater: he met Filly the horse (both animals took it well; while Tater was unsure he wasn’t stressed in the interaction and Filly mildly interested in the strange small creature — neither were in any danger.)
Two male American kestrels (Falco sparverius), father (left) and juvenile son (right). The father was focused, watching the field for prey as the son intermittently begged and watched. Even though the juvenile is most likely there so he can take immediate advantage of his father’s catches, he’s learning a thing or two whether he knows it or not.
This is the last photo I have from the raptors, while working over the sumer, at CuriOdyssey. This is Tesla. When tesla was wild, she would come right up to people looking for food handouts. If anyone has come across a truly wild American Kestrel, they would know this behavior is very odd. American Kestrels are one of the most shy falcons, I have ever come across.
Being habituated to people, Tesla was no longer fit to be in the wild. When a wild animal is habituated to people, it poses a threat for both the animal, and the people they interact with. Tesla now lives behind the scenes at CuriOdyssey, and play a very important role as an animal ambassador.
All of the educational animals at CuriOdyssey live behind the scenes, and only come out when they are being presented, to teach the public about their species and the importance of animals, in our environment. This helps reduce the stress in these animals.
Introducing Zima, our American kestrel. He reminds me so much of my last kestrel, Ollie, from 7 years ago. It feels great to have one of these little murder budgies around again
