19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Peregrine falcon feeding her young
A pair of peregrine falcons has been nesting on a cliff at Devil's Slide in Pacifica, CA for at least six years now. The nest site is visible on the cliff, but completely inaccessible so the falcons feel safe from human encroachment. On this day I saw the male flying with a catch he had made and then watched the mid-air food transfer to the female. She beelined it toward the nest scrape, calling to her young as she approached. I had to back up further on the road to get a decent angle to see the young ones come into the open as mom landed. It was a very special moment to be able to witness and capture.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 05.2021 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2021 |
| Photo Location: | Pacifica, California, United States of America |
| Camera: | NIKON D500 |
| Copyright: | © Douglas Croft |