I thought this would be of interest to anyone going on the Wilds trip this
weekend... I've heard that this prairie falcon has been around since perhaps
December or earlier, but no one had good looks at the bird.
Take care,
---Mike
here's the posting:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Sanders" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "All Postings on Net" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 6:56 PM
Subject: Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon - YES!
Hello All,
I re-located the Prairie Falcon at the Wilds at
10:30 AM today (Monday) in nearly the same location as
it was seen yesterday evening. The bird was perched on
a large, round bale of hay on the sloping hillside,
facing me, and at a distance of about 150 yards beyond
the waterway. This area is to the NNE of an inactive
oil well (see directions below), and towards The Wilds
main headquarters/buildings. I was able to move closer
for good scope looks and with the sun to my back.
Later, the bird flew and continued soaring in the area
for at least 5 minutes before moving on South onto AEP
lands. I got stunning scope looks at this bird from
all angles while it was in flight and the black
axillaries, missing from yesterday's observations,
were very prominent! There is no doubt, in my mind,
about the ID of this bird. I continued birding the
area in hopes of also finding the Golden Eagle and at
about 1:15 PM returned to the area where, earlier, I
had seen the Prairie Falcon. As I was scanning the
bales of hay for the falcon, a large, dark raptor
appeared in the field of view from over the ridge. It
was the Golden Ealgle! which remained, mostly
flying/soaring in that area for at least 10 more
minutes and landing once in the hayfield not too far
from two rough-legged hawks, offering a nice size
comparison. I left the area at about 2:00 PM.
Raptors seen today at the Wilds: (8 species)
- Red-tailed Hawk, 3
- American Kestrel, 2
- Great Horned Owl, 1 (on nest across from entrance)
- Northern Harrier, 6
- Rough-legged Hawk, ~ 15
- PRAIRIE FALCON, 1
- GOLDEN EAGLE, 1
- Short-eared Owl, 1
Here are the directions (provided by Randy Rogers)
to the area where the Prairie Falcon has been found on
the last two days:
LOCATION: Near The Wilds game preserve, vicinity.
Zanesville, OH. Proceeding easterly along
International Rd past the entrance to The Wilds to the
intersection at the end of International Rd, turn
right. About 1/2 mile, before you go up the steep
hill, a dirt road goes left (Proudy Rd?), turn left
and proceed to a prominent intersection of dirt/gravel
roads with a stop sign for oncoming traffic from the
right, turn right (you are now parrallel to the hard
road and going thru the middle of the mowed
hayfields), go about half way along this road and look
for a natural gas well on the right. This is the area.
Good Luck to all in finding these Ohio rarities!
More later,
Dan Sanders
Columbus
=====
More later,
Dan Sanders
Columbus, OH
614-761-3357
<[log in to unmask]>
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