Adult female American Kestrel perched on an old post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I took this photo of an adult female American Kestrel last week at Farmington Bay WMA as she perched on a wooden post next to the marsh. I was only going to share this image today but as I processed this photo I thought about all the times I have photographed American Kestrels on this same exact post over the years. I moved to Utah in the summer of 2009 and started photographing birds on this post that fall.
American Kestrel female sitting on signpost – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
In the winter of 2009 and 2010 I’d often see American Kestrels on this wooden post and in February of 2010 I had a morning where a female American Kestrel was very cooperative on that post where I took a couple of hundred photos of her as she preened, stretched and looked around. There was snow on the ground that morning which made the background look different than it does in the first photo above but the post has the same notch in it on the left side.
I wonder how many kestrels have eaten meals on top of that post in all the years I have been photographing them on it.
Fluffed up female American Kestrel – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
This is the same female kestrel that is in the second photo after she turned her back to me and then looked at me over her shoulder.
With a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years it is possible that the kestrel in the first and second photo are the same bird because kestrels do show territorial site fidelity and American Kestrels are year round residents here in northern Utah but I’m guessing that they are two individual females. Perhaps the female I photographed last week is the daughter or granddaughter of the kestrel I photographed in 2010. Without bands I can’t be sure.
My gear has changed a lot since 2010. My admiration, respect, and love of these tiny falcons has only intensified.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Kestrel photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beautiful, beautiful pics of a gorgeous Kestrel. Love the eye contact. Thanks Mia.
Wonderful images as usual Mia, stay safe.
Excellent captures! I really like that last pose.
It can be hard to tell without a stand out visual difference in the face or feet, eathers molt and change. When working with these birds you do see facial differences like in people, but that is an up close personal inspection.
Lovely. And how helpful of the kestrels to show a preference for that spot – and help to delight you (and us).
Beautiful!