Portrait of a Merlin

It was a frigid day, with a high of 7 degrees F above zero. My birding companion and I drove around looking for birds to photograph, but there was... more

by Judi Dressler

Title

Portrait of a Merlin

Artist

Judi Dressler

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

It was a frigid day, with a high of 7 degrees F above zero. My birding companion and I drove around looking for birds to photograph, but there was not much to see; they were all staying warmer somewhere, rather than out in the cold wind. But suddenly we noticed motion and there was this beautiful Merlin, looking for lunch. S/he didn't seem nervous around our car, so we parked and managed to get a few shots before we drove away to let him or her hunt without our presence.

From Cornell Labs: "Merlins are small, fierce falcons that use surprise attacks to bring down small songbirds and shorebirds. They are powerful fliers, but you can tell them from larger falcons by their rapid wingbeats and overall dark tones. Medieval falconers called them “lady hawks,” and noblewomen used them to hunt Sky Larks. Merlin populations have largely recovered from twentieth-century declines, thanks to a ban on the pesticide DDT and their ability to adapt to life around towns and cities."

Uploaded

June 2nd, 2017