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Thread: Peregrine Falcon with a Pigeon

  1. #1
    Jody Melanson
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    Default Peregrine Falcon with a Pigeon



    Model = Canon EOS-1D Mark II N
    Exposure Time = 1/1250"
    F Number = F8
    Exposure Program = Manual
    ISO Speed Ratings = 400
    Metering Mode = Spot
    Flash = Off
    Focal Length = 400mm
    Color Space = sRGB
    Exposure Mode = Manual exposure
    Handheld using Bushhawk
    Full frame with left side cropped off

    Thanks to Brandon Holden, I found out about an active nest of Peregrines in Niagara Falls. I went to bed at 11:30pm and got up at 3am to leave by 4am. We took a drive down there to see what we could get. We saw 5 Peregrines in the sky at one point. Got some full frame perched images, portraits, flight. It was a thrill to just watch the juveniles fly around and play attack each other or tuck and dive at a hundred or two miles an hour. Well when this parent Peregrine was gliding by, I noticed it started flapping its wings and commented that maybe it was going after something. Seconds later it nailed this Pigeon 30' from us! Awesome! I got 23 frames of the action.

    Interesting to me was that the Peregrine grabbed the Pigeon out of the air with her talons. Then she grabbed the neck of the pigeon and broke its neck immediately.

    This picture was made after she broke the neck and flew past us to head back to feed the juveniles.

    A spectacular morning spent in good company with some fabulous images to boot!
    Last edited by Jody Melanson; 07-05-2008 at 09:03 PM.

  2. #2
    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Your dedication paid off with a technically excellent photo of some incredible action! Awesome!

  3. #3
    Judy Lynn Malloch
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    Incredible image and incredible timing. It is amazing to me how much one can learn about these birds and how they livel their lives on a daily basis. Thanks for all the background info Jody on this capture and big congratulations on an awesome image. Niagara Falls is where i was born but I do not remember any Peregrine Falcons around.

  4. #4
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    Awesome shot Jody!

  5. #5
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    Jody big congratulations on this awesome image. It sounds as if you had a wonderful trip.

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    awesome behaviour here Jody and a great photo in its own right!

  7. #7
    Lifetime Member James Salywoda's Avatar
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    Awesome action captured Jody!!!!!

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    Just AWESOME.

  9. #9
    Lifetime Member Loukie Viljoen's Avatar
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    "What a shot I got " - brilliant, you can drive there in a month of , or year of Sundays and never get this again.Loukie

  10. #10
    Nikolay Staykov - shotlandetsa
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    simply unbelivable !!!

  11. #11
    IOTY Winner 2008 Chris van Rooyen's Avatar
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    This must rate as one of the best birds in action shots ever. Cannot fault it, everything is perfect:eek:. Congratulations :D

  12. #12
    Lifetime Member Loukie Viljoen's Avatar
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    Chris this is the dream shot of KTP.

  13. #13
    Ken Watkins
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    INCREDIBLE, the dream shot, I agree entirely with what Chris says, many congratulations.
    The posts on this forum during the past week have been in the main almost unbelievable. What can we expect next.

  14. #14
    hans stel
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    What a wonderful shot!

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    Wow, Jody
    I never thought I'd say I felt sorry for a pigeon.....but I think this is an exception. The action is extraordinary.

  16. #16
    Fabs Forns
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    I'm speechless!

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    Oh my god, one of the best actions - very well captured. Love to see more of them.
    TFS.

  18. #18
    Raul Quinones
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    Great picture, great timing, awesome action.

  19. #19
    Axel Hildebrandt
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    Excellent capture, details and thanks for sharing the story. I didn't know peregrines would break the neck of their prey. At least the pigeon didn't need to suffer too much. Have you tried to lighten the parts of the plumage that is not sunlit?

  20. #20
    Steve Wheeler
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    This is just SICK...

    Speechless is right...

    Unbelievable!

    Steve

  21. #21
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    Fabulous. Well done.

    Austin

  22. #22
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    Excellent details and with catch it is quite a story teller. Very well done.

  23. #23
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    Simply wow.

  24. #24
    david cramer
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    Great work, Jody. Let's see more of this series!

  25. #25
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    I am totally amazed. I had no idea that they would grab another bird right out of the air - and one as large as that - WOW!

    Chris Zink

  26. #26
    Alfred Forns
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    One of the most intense bird image I've seen posted !!! Big Time Congrats Jody !!!

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    I admire this capture!!!! Regards!

  28. #28
    praveen p mohandas
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    excellent image....very nice contrast and well executed image....

  29. #29
    Rebecca Gossard
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    Any chance of seeing more of these remarkable photos? :)

  30. #30
    Bill Bryant
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    Awesome!

    I think I would have run right out and bought a Lotto ticket before I even downloaded the images!

    Ditto on the request to see more in the series.

  31. #31
    Eddy Matuod
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    Excellent!

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