the raptor I didn't want to see

jeff lapoint

I've been bitten by the raptor bug lately. When I shoot now at least 80% of my time and effort is put into finding and trying to shoot them...mostly with poor results. Then again, the challenge is part of the allure. They always seems to be at least several steps ahead of me.

Knowing they were well out of reach yesterday I stopped shooting and just watched and in the process felt as if I got to know them--even if just a little bit.

Satisfied with at least a peek into their lives I turned to head home. I was almost halfway to the car when I spotted this: a single dead red tail. No signs of trauma or a struggle. Just the bird I had been searching for in the last way I wanted to find it. I felt compelled to take this shot and now to post it...

-j

jwear

did you tell the folks at the house if not call them so maybe they can find why it died --what a dam shame you did good with the shot and the way you did it .The whole bird would not have been good thanks

bfjr

Excellent post, image and words.
I'm also certainly not happy to hear this but let's hope it was matter of a long full life in the skies !! And just came to a natural end.

Well done DocJeff for sharing this in this way. Look forward to shootin with ya soon
We'll find some Raptor yet !!

jeff lapoint

jwear wrote:

did you tell the folks at the house if not call them so maybe they can find why it died --what a dam shame you did good with the shot and the way you did it .The whole bird would not have been good thanks

Thanks jeff. i went to the audobon house but it had just closed. 3 people were walking out and i was hoping they were staff, but they were birders (one which thought she knew everything including all things west nile related. more than annoying after spending over an hour listening to the ID doctor about the virus only to have some blow hard preach to me). i called vector control and left a message.

jeff lapoint

bfjr wrote:

Excellent post, image and words.
I'm also certainly not happy to hear this but let's hope it was matter of a long full life in the skies !! And just came to a natural end.

Well done DocJeff for sharing this in this way. Look forward to shootin with ya soon
We'll find some Raptor yet !!

Thanks for the kind words ben. looking forward to our next shoot as well.