Does A Falcon Drown Its Prey Video

[just ask me]

 

 

does the falcon intensionally drown its prey

 

looks like it

[Guest IB]

Members have posted 2 videos of such drownings. These were of sparrowhawks drowning a magpie, and a feral? pigeon, respectively, the first in a garden pond, the second in a deep puddle at the side of a road. So wouldn't be surprised if peregrine uses this too.

 

What surprises me is how it managed to dunk the waterfowl cos I thought waterfowl had special bouyancy which keeps them afloat (saw a dead goose once, floating on local pond) and how the peregrine didn't end up drowned in the pond? Surely its feathers can't survive a dunking in a pond? Have their feathers special waterproofing?

[yeboah]

The Falcons feathers are very coarse and able to withstand a fair amount of water ,having watched the clip the falcon was only keeping a grip of its prey until it was able to get it onto dry land we can count ourselves very very lucky that it does not adopt the same method of attack on a loft roof ,once watched a film where after the falcon had made a kill it went to the rivers edge for a bath then lay in the sun to dry .

[Guest Owen]

To the best of my knowledge, a falcon can not afford to get wet while attacking airborne prey because it would loose it,s ability to fly properly. Their feathers are very course and become soaked easily, a bit like a chicken really. That is why prey species will hug water when there are falcons about. Just watch your pigeons crossing the channel. They either fly very high, to get above the threat or hug the water because a falcon can not stoop on them for fear of getting water logged and drowning. The falcon making the duck kill, was in my opinion, trying to do two things. Effect a kill by cutting the duck's nerves behind the head and trying to drag itself and the duck onto dry land. No doubt the falcon would then be able to eat the duck and dry off at the same time. I doubt whether the falcon would be very good at flying in the wet condition it's feathers were in. Perhaps we have learned that falcons are less able to attack in wet weather? And possibly, that falcons are vulnerable to attack themselves when they are wet and on the ground after attacking waterfowl.

What do you think?

[john cumming]

its safe to say they definately have the capability to do so!!! whether its a prefered option i would tend to think not??

 

 

 

john

[chris h]

Rocketing down to catch its prey, no other creature on earth can move as fast as the peregrine falcon. A peregrine stooping is not really flying; it’s coming out of the sky like 1 kg feathered rock. These falcons get higher than most before they dive, so they reach higher speeds. Presumably they need the altitude and resulting speed because their prey itself is so fast. Pigeons for example, a staple peregrine food, can have a cruising speed of 50 km/h and bursts of about 100 km/h which is the top speed for a cheetah. the Peregrine Falcon strikes its prey with a clenched foot, stunning or killing it, then turns to catch it in mid-air. The Peregrine will drop it to the ground and eat it there if it is too heavy to carry. Prey is plucked before consumption.