Raptors- "from the least of these to the greatest"
May 30, 2018 22:49:08 #
patrick43
Loc: Los Lunas,NM
Bet you were happy to have that nice thick glove on your arm. I
bet it was a thrill holding these guys.
bet it was a thrill holding these guys.
May 31, 2018 05:52:12 #
Matthew Bolland wrote:
It's not the quality of the photos here but rather that I got to check out both the smallest raptor (American kestrel) and largest raptor (Golden Eagle) from a falconer buddy in Tucson. Both are females. The Eagle is 24 yrs old! They can live to be 40 in some cases. Stupid grin on my face... no extra charge.
Sounds like quite the experience Matthew.
May 31, 2018 06:58:36 #
That has got to be a nice feeling....holding a bird like that on your arm. Lucky you.
May 31, 2018 06:58:49 #
That has got to be a nice feeling....holding a bird like that on your arm. Lucky you.
May 31, 2018 07:45:37 #
Matthew Bolland wrote:
It's not the quality of the photos here but rather that I got to check out both the smallest raptor (American kestrel) and largest raptor (Golden Eagle) from a falconer buddy in Tucson. Both are females. The Eagle is 24 yrs old! They can live to be 40 in some cases. Stupid grin on my face... no extra charge.
What a great experience...I’m
with envy...seriously though thanks for sharing!May 31, 2018 09:06:18 #
For sure. Golden Eagles have a 1200 psi clamp pressure with their talons. Glove is steel mesh reinforced. Interesting what you learn hanging around falconers.
May 31, 2018 09:08:53 #
Matthew Bolland wrote:
For sure. Golden Eagles have a 1200 psi clamp pressure with their talons. Glove is steel mesh reinforced. Interesting what you learn hanging around falconers.
I enjoyed holding a saw-whet owl on my hand.
May 31, 2018 09:13:06 #
What a great experience. My wife and I are moving to Tubac, south of Tucson. If your friend ever works his birds in public, I would love to hear about it. Both my wife and I would love the opportunity to see these birds up close.
May 31, 2018 10:07:13 #
Great experience Matthew. It's amazing what the adult eagle has to go through to extend their life to 40 years or more. At some point they have to decide to tear of their beek to grow a new one, if they suceed they will live if not they die.
May 31, 2018 10:24:06 #
I found that one a bit hard to believe, so I had to look it up, for myself. http://whatiseagle.blogspot.com/2014/02/bald-eagles-transform-their-lives-at-40.html
May 31, 2018 11:45:01 #
jeep_daddy wrote:
You are correct, the Golden Eagle is the largest raptor in North America.
California condor is the largest U.S. raptor. The American eagle edges out Golden( sounds like a sport report) eagle. See post by Dngallagher, this topic.
May 31, 2018 13:08:31 #
May 31, 2018 13:44:49 #
Mathew, I was not trying to detract from your enjoyment. I would love to be that close. Just was stating published fact . Bill
May 31, 2018 13:50:50 #
Matthew Bolland wrote:
It's not the quality of the photos here but rather that I got to check out both the smallest raptor (American kestrel) and largest raptor (Golden Eagle) from a falconer buddy in Tucson. Both are females. The Eagle is 24 yrs old! They can live to be 40 in some cases. Stupid grin on my face... no extra charge.
A wonderful opportunity Matthew, thanks for sharing.
Phil
May 31, 2018 13:52:38 #
newtoyou wrote:
California condor is the largest U.S. raptor. The American eagle edges out Golden( sounds like a sport report) eagle. See post by Dngallagher, this topic.
Actually, there seems to be some debate whether Vultures are considered Raptors.
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