Caracara Home Building

Harryb

Hi Y'all,

My luck is holding. The action at Viera is slowly getting better after a very slow fall so far. I found out why the action has been slower this year. It turns out they sprayed the place for mosquittos. Unfortunately they used a chemical that was too strong. It not only killed off the mosquittos but also did a very good job on fish, crayfish and frogs too. Three woodstorks died after eating fish that were killed by the spraying. :cry

Anyhow after finishing my day's shooting I parked in the parking lot to visit the accomodations. Upon exiting the portopotty I saw two caracaras across the way. They were picking up vegetation for their nest and as chance would have their return flight path was right over the portopotty. :clap

vintagemxr

Harry, somehow you make it seem so easy. Lovely shots of a very interesting looking bird. With it's orange marked beak the caracara almost looks like someone crossed a hawk with a parrot.

Doug

IraRunyan

Outstanding series, Harry. They have been building on that nest for quite a long time now. I first noted them building it about 3 weeks ago.....

Ric Grupe

Three woodstorks died after eating fish that were killed by the spraying. :cry

Damn shame! Any steps taken to ensure no repeat? :whip

Very cool set, Harry.

Cato

Harryb wrote:

Hi Y'all,

My luck is holding. The action at Viera is slowly getting better after a very slow fall so far. I found out why the action has been slower this year. It turns out they sprayed the place for mosquittos. Unfortunately they used a chemical that was too strong. It not only killed off the mosquittos but also did a very good job on fish, crayfish and frogs too. Three woodstorks died after eating fish that were killed by the spraying. :cry

Grrrrrrrrrr...... the after-effects could last for years... :gun2

Awesome shots, though. I most enjoy photos of animals interacting with each other and their environment.

Harryb

vintagemxr wrote:

Harry, somehow you make it seem so easy. Lovely shots of a very interesting looking bird. With it's orange marked beak the caracara almost looks like someone crossed a hawk with a parrot.

Doug

Thanks Doug, actually ahving the opportunity to shoot at the Viera Wetlands makes it easy. The caracara is a very distinctive looking fella.

roentarre

Seriously

I have yet seen a bird like this!

dlplumer

Amazing Harry. How close were you? What lens? and why is one banded? (sorry for all the questions, but this is still new for me )

singraham

Flight Shots!
The flight shots are amazing! Wonderful!

[Deleted User]

I think these are the Caracaras building just south of the entrance road on the east edge of the wetlands. Harry rather pinpointed their location

How could someone screw up and poison so many things?

Jim

Harryb

IraRunyan wrote:

Outstanding series, Harry. They have been building on that nest for quite a long time now. I first noted them building it about 3 weeks ago.....

Thanks IRa, I haven't seen them nest building on my last two visits maybe the nest has been built.

kdog

I really enjoyed this set, Harry. The caracara are such interesting and exotic birds, so seldom seen in other areas of the country.

Harryb

Ric Grupe wrote:

Damn shame! Any steps taken to ensure no repeat? :whip

Very cool set, Harry.

Thanks Ric. I hope they learn from experience. The prior environmental director would have never allowed that to happen. This new gal is great at keeping the roads repaired but she does not seem to be as concerned with the wildlife.

Harryb

Cato wrote:

Grrrrrrrrrr...... the after-effects could last for years... :gun2

Awesome shots, though. I most enjoy photos of animals interacting with each other and their environment.

Thanks Cato, fortunately my recent visits have found the fish population to be rebounding and the wildlfie activity increasing so it looks like no permanent damage was done.

4Mallko

That's a sad report, some really good photos, and an interesting story.
I like the ninth photo in the series best, kind of curious with that antennae on the back.

I understand that people are afraid of the mosquito situation but the efforts to spray them have repeatedly shown a lack of understanding and respect for the chemicals they are playing with. Very sad.

Harryb

roentarre wrote:

Seriously

I have yet seen a bird like this!

Thanks James. The crested caracara can only be found along the gulf coast states in the US, Mexico and Central America.

Maestro

Harryb wrote:

Thanks James. The crested caracara can only be found along the gulf coast states in the US, Mexico and Central America.

Actually, I am going to have to correct you on that one. Here in Texas the Crested Caracara can be seen well inland. In fact, they are even around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I have seen at least one pair this year in my hometown. They seem to be expanding here in Texas. That is good news considering how rare they are in the U.S.

Great series Harry. I love seeing them doing something other than perching.

Harryb

Maestro wrote:

Actually, I am going to have to correct you on that one. Here in Texas the Crested Caracara can be seen well inland. In fact, they are even around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I have seen at least one pair this year in my hometown. They seem to be expanding here in Texas. That is good news considering how rare they are in the U.S.

Great series Harry. I love seeing them doing something other than perching.

Texas was on the Gulf Coast the last time I looked at a map. :poke

Thanks Stephen and I hope they keep spreading inland. They are endangered in Florida.

Harryb

dlplumer wrote:

Amazing Harry. How close were you? What lens? and why is one banded? (sorry for all the questions, but this is still new for me )

Hey Dan,

The caracaras are an endangered species in Florida and the wildlife folks are studying them. Hence the male caracara has been banded and a radio transmitter strapped to his back to track his movements. He has had that get-up on for a bit over 2 years now.

These were shot with the D3, 300mm f/4 and the 1.7 TC.

I was about 30 25 yards away for the captures by the fence. The caracaras were flying right by me on the way to their nest. Most of the flight shots are full frame or very close to it. They flew as close as 5 yards away from me.

Harryb

singraham wrote:

The flight shots are amazing! Wonderful!

Thanks for the kind words Stephen.

Harryb

Jim K wrote:

I think these are the Caracaras building just south of the entrance road on the east edge of the wetlands. Harry rather pinpointed their location

How could someone screw up and poison so many things?

Jim

Yep that's the location. The new environmental folks at the wetlands are not as competent as their predecessors. Hopefully they won't repeat this performance.

Harryb

kdog wrote:

I really enjoyed this set, Harry. The caracara are such interesting and exotic birds, so seldom seen in other areas of the country.

Thanks its always fun to be able to capture these subjects.

Harryb

4Mallko wrote:

That's a sad report, some really good photos, and an interesting story.
I like the ninth photo in the series best, kind of curious with that antennae on the back.

I understand that people are afraid of the mosquito situation but the efforts to spray them have repeatedly shown a lack of understanding and respect for the chemicals they are playing with. Very sad.

Thanks Kevin, I already expalined about the tracking device on the caracara. Usually the environemntal folks at the wetlands are pretty careful. This time they did not supervise their contractor closely enough.