Kestrels

[stigofthedump]

Fantastic shot Snake!

I agree with Richard G. Field craft on your part!

Thanks for sharing it with us.


Vince

[valleyforge]

That's another fantastic photo Snake.

I was wondering though about that right eye ... is there perhaps an abnormality/injury there, or did you just catch her mid blink?

Have you any other shots that would reassure us that her ability to hunt isn't being impaired by some weakness in that eye?

She does look a little fluffed-up and not quite as sleek as you might expect. Maybe it was just a particularly cold day of course.

[posie]

Hi Snake ,I thought she looked a bit fluffed, and wondered 'do this year's young have different feathers to adult birds ?' We have Kestrels nest in our pylon every year (we've been here 15 years ) and they have bad trouble with the crows , who work in pairs, one draws the adult Kestrel away and the second one attempts to steal the babies. I don't know if this is an arrangement between the two Crows , or whether the second Crow is an opportunist ! The chicks make a lot of noise when the parent hunter is on way back to nest, starting when the parent is a long way off.Guess they've already got good long distance eyesight and see their dinner coming ! KIDS !

[snake]

Thank you all so much for your kind remarks.
I don't think she would have a problem hunting in any way. She was one of a pair I watched having a great old time chasing each other about.
I only managed to get two pics of her before she flew off, this was the best one the other I deleted so i'm hoping it was just a blink.
I sat watching them for three or four minutes and the way she flew about gives me no call for concern.

[Kayleigh]

Great shot as usual snake she is a beautiful bird.
I think if she was blind or had impaired vision on that eye she would compensate quite well, other senses kick in as long as she didn't loose sight in both eyes.

My dog went blind and coped quite well her hearing improved she could even catch a ball if bounced on the floor then her hearing packed in..

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by snake

I sat watching them for three or four minutes and the way she flew about gives me no call for concern.

Sounds good snake ... maybe it was just a wink after all.

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I think if she was blind or had impaired vision on that eye she would compensate quite well, other senses kick in as long as she didn't loose sight in both eyes.

Can't agree with that Kayleigh ... and that was the point of my concern, as to be effective hunters BOP's really rely on excellent binocular/stereo vision in order to properly judge spatial distances ... any error in judgement could have disatrous consequences. It wouldn't prevent her continuing to feed on carrion or ground invertibrates of course, so a temporary injury need not be totally detrimental.

Birds with a severe visual impairment in just one eye are usually extremely hesitant about taking to flight at all, so if snake observed her doing aerobatics then it's clear that she is probably able to see well enough with both.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Sounds good snake ... maybe it was just a wink after all.



Can't agree with that Kayleigh ... and that was the point of my concern, as to be effective hunters BOP's really rely on excellent binocular/stereo vision in order to properly judge spatial distances ... any error in judgement could have disatrous consequences. It wouldn't prevent her continuing to feed on carrion or ground invertibrates of course, so a temporary injury need not be totally detrimental.

Birds with a severe visual impairment in just one eye are usually extremely hesitant about taking to flight at all, so if snake observed her doing aerobatics then it's clear that she is probably able to see well enough with both.

Be suprised just how well a falcon or hawk can adjust with one good eye.
Regards
Colin

[Picidae]

Great shot Snake.

Never seen a wild raptor blind in one eye so can't imagine the survival rate is that high to be honest, seen a few in captivity (in rescue centres) but that's probably a different matter as captive birds don't face the same challenges as wild birds. Herring Gulls seem to cope with impaired vision (with one eye) but then they are largely scavengers anyway and rather socially orientated.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Sounds good snake ... maybe it was just a wink after all.



Can't agree with that Kayleigh ... and that was the point of my concern, as to be effective hunters BOP's really rely on excellent binocular/stereo vision in order to properly judge spatial distances ... any error in judgement could have disatrous consequences. It wouldn't prevent her continuing to feed on carrion or ground invertibrates of course, so a temporary injury need not be totally detrimental.

Birds with a severe visual impairment in just one eye are usually extremely hesitant about taking to flight at all, so if snake observed her doing aerobatics then it's clear that she is probably able to see well enough with both.

As I know nothing about birds I would have thought instinct would kick in..
Glad this bird is doing fine with or with out excellent sight.

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Be suprised just how well a falcon or hawk can adjust with one good eye.

I don't doubt that they can cope well enough in care, or where food is being provided by a falconer Colin, but I've not known any bird with unilateral loss of sight become a viable candidate for release.

My experience with casualty BOPs is admittedly restricted to just tawny owls and common buzzards, but if you have some experience with one-eyed hawks/falcons I'd be very pleased if you'd share it or point us to a reference, anecdotal or otherwise.