{"id":14416,"date":"2014-02-22T06:55:42","date_gmt":"2014-02-22T13:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=14416"},"modified":"2026-01-29T12:29:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T18:29:35","slug":"white-gyrfalcon-yet-another-escaped-falconry-bird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/02\/22\/white-gyrfalcon-yet-another-escaped-falconry-bird\/","title":{"rendered":"White Gyrfalcon – Yet Another Escaped Falconry Bird!"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the four and a half years I have been in Utah I have found, pointed out, and photographed four escaped falconry birds, one in 2009, and two in 2012.<\/p>\n

Yesterday I photographed another one, an escaped White Gyrfalcon. Just last month another escaped Red-tailed Hawk was found hanging by it’s leashes in a tree by my friend and fellow photographer, Jeff Cooper.<\/p>\n

The night before last a report came on in UBIRD of a Snowy Owl nearby but when a description by the spotter of the bird came in I suspected that it wasn’t a Snowy Owl and that it might have been a very light Barn Owl. The description included stated the bird had a small head, narrow tapered wings and that the bird turned its head in an owl-like fashion.<\/p>\n

People went looking for the bird yesterday without anyone spotting a Snowy Owl and some time in the afternoon a photo was sent in to UBIRD by Sean Jorgenson that clearly showed a Gyrfalcon in the same area that the Snowy Owl had been reported.\u00a0 I hurried to get my gear together and headed to the Mick Riley Golf Course<\/span><\/a> in Murray.<\/p>\n

\"GyrfalconGyrfalcon getting ready to lift off<\/span><\/p>\n

Before leaving for the Golf Course it was reported by people with the Gyrfalcon that it was an escaped falconry bird but I wanted to see it any way. It was a gorgeous white Gyrfalcon sitting on a power pole! By the time we got there the clouds had rolled in so my images are not what I would have hoped for them to be of the largest falcon of North America.<\/p>\n

There was a large group of birders and bird photographers looking at the falcon that included people I knew and people I had only previously known through communications on UBIRD and via email.<\/p>\n

The Gyrfalcon was the star we were just the paparazzi.<\/p>\n

\"GyrfalconGyrfalcon lift off<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Shaw arrived with his gear to recapture the escaped Gyrfalcon and while we were there the falcon made several passes at the bal chatri trap. It was recaptured after we left and was transported to a mew at Hawk Watch International to be fed and housed until the “owner” claims it and if they don’t a decision will have to be made about the Gyrfalcon.<\/p>\n

\"GyrfalconGyrfalcon in flight<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the biggest concerns for escaped falconry birds is that their hardware; anklets, jesses and leashes, can become entangled and the bird will die by starvation. The Red-tailed Hawk that Jeff located was found hanging upside down by its leashes. The Red-tailed Hawk was rescued thanks to Jeff finding it.<\/p>\n

It bothers me greatly to have found three escaped falconry birds. It bothers me that without Jeff finding the Red-tailed Hawk it might have suffered and died. It bothers me that the Gyrfalcon escaped and could have come to harm.<\/p>\n

Seeing this spectacular Gyrfalcon was amazing and sharing the experience with other people was great.<\/p>\n

The number of escaped and found falconry birds in this area is disturbing, damages the reputation of the falconry sport, and to be entirely honest I’d rather see these birds flying free and wild.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Gyrfalcon photos plus facts an information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the four and a half years I have been in Utah I have found, pointed out, and photographed four escaped falconry birds, one in 2009, and two in 2012.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":135277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,27,1022,2467,1134,709,26],"tags":[155,2663,1876,4285,2469,4199,4078,2470,4279,2471,2468,1135,373],"class_list":["post-14416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-kestrel","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-gyrfalcons","category-peregrine-falcons","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-american-kestrel","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-escaped-falconry-birds","tag-falco-peregrinus","tag-falco-rusticolus","tag-falco-sparverius","tag-falcon","tag-falconry-bird","tag-falcons","tag-gyr","tag-gyrfalcon","tag-peregrine-falcon","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/gyrfalcon-ready-to-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-0398.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3Kw","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6878,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/12\/23\/more-on-escaped-falconry-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":14416,"position":0},"title":"More on Escaped Falconry Birds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Throughout these three experiences in finding escaped falconry birds what I have learned is that falconry is for experts not for people who just think it is cool to have a pet raptor.","rel":"","context":"In "American Kestrels"","block_context":{"text":"American Kestrels","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/falcons\/american-kestrel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Escaped female American Kestrel with jesses 2012, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/american-kestrel-female-jesses-mia-mcpherson-4639.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/american-kestrel-female-jesses-mia-mcpherson-4639.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/american-kestrel-female-jesses-mia-mcpherson-4639.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/american-kestrel-female-jesses-mia-mcpherson-4639.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6376,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/10\/16\/escaped-falconry-birds-a-peregrine-falcon-and-american-kestrel\/","url_meta":{"origin":14416,"position":1},"title":"Escaped Falconry Birds – Peregrine Falcon and American Kestrel","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I know that falconry birds and rehabbed raptors can be used as excellent tools in educating the public, I've been impressed with them myself. But there is a risk for falconry birds that escape and that still have jesses or anklets attached and that fact worries me.","rel":"","context":"In "American Kestrels"","block_context":{"text":"American Kestrels","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/falcons\/american-kestrel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Escaped Falconry Bird - Peregrine Falcon - sighted October 14, 2012 near the Great Salt Lake from the Antelope Island causeway.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-mia-mcpherson-1028.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-mia-mcpherson-1028.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-mia-mcpherson-1028.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-mia-mcpherson-1028.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19956,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/02\/12\/a-utah-gyrfalcon-lifer-and-cruddy-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":14416,"position":2},"title":"Utah Gyrfalcon Lifer And Cruddy Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This could be the seventh record of a Gyrfalcon in Utah, we will have to wait and see if it accepted. I hope the bird sticks around so that other people can see it.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nikon D810 LCD Screen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/gyr-mia-mcpherson-1510.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/gyr-mia-mcpherson-1510.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/gyr-mia-mcpherson-1510.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/gyr-mia-mcpherson-1510.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49472,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/11\/18\/side-by-side-prairie-and-peregrine-falcon-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":14416,"position":3},"title":"Side By Side Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There are other differences in plumage between Prairie and Peregrine Falcons that show in my photos but by using just their heads it is possible to make a quick ID in the field.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison, Prairie - Box Elder County, Utah, Peregrine - Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-prairie-falcon-snow-mia-mcpherson-8165.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44630,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/01\/28\/peregrine-falcon-in-the-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":14416,"position":4},"title":"Peregrine Falcon in the Snow – My Best Find of the Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"My best find of the day was a Peregrine Falcon in the snow perched on a colorful boulder with a snowy background.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Peregrine Falcon in snow, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/peregrine-falcon-snow-winter-mia-mcpherson-8305.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55499,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/01\/what-birds-will-2019-bring\/","url_meta":{"origin":14416,"position":5},"title":"What Birds Will 2019 Bring?","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"So back to the question of what birds will this New Year bring? The ones I get out and find of course.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"2019 Dream Birds","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2019-dream-birds-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2019-dream-birds-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2019-dream-birds-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2019-dream-birds-mia-mcpherson.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}