Bird Of Prey...
- Thread starter Wander
- Start date
Ooo, that's a good one. I like that.
But mine is, that when a kestrel hovers it always hovers facing into the wind. Which makes sense really.
So you could use a kestrel as a wind indicator.
But mine is, that when a kestrel hovers it always hovers facing into the wind. Which makes sense really.
So you could use a kestrel as a wind indicator.
The explanation I heard for this is that they can see urine trails from the small mammals they hunt. If you have ever used a UV flashlight in your bathroom, you can understand why.
Animals like voles have "runs" they commonly use to move about. Seeing in UV would help the bird see the trails the voles are using.
- Woodsorrel
Mmm... but woodpigeons see in the ultraviolet spectrum as well and they don't hunt 
- which is why you must never wash your camo jacket in a modern washing powder; the 'whitener' causes it to shows up like a beacon in the woods to flying quarry!
I believe that kestrels are the only bird of prey that can hover in still air; i.e. they don't need wind to keep them in place - whereas buzzards can only hover on an updraft for example. So, to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced that the kestrel would be a reliable wind vane - well, not any more reliable than a wet finger anyway.
- which is why you must never wash your camo jacket in a modern washing powder; the 'whitener' causes it to shows up like a beacon in the woods to flying quarry!I believe that kestrels are the only bird of prey that can hover in still air; i.e. they don't need wind to keep them in place - whereas buzzards can only hover on an updraft for example. So, to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced that the kestrel would be a reliable wind vane - well, not any more reliable than a wet finger anyway.
As said red-footed falcons hover exactly as kestrels and sometimes they are not so easy to tell apart. Ospreys hover well too and rough-legged buzzard does it sometimes. Some more exotic ones probably do too.
I stand corrected, apparently a kestrel does need a breeze to hover (having now studied a few semi-academic publications) - and it appears that all sorts of raptors are seen 'hovering' at times. So, I don't really understand why it is commonly quote that the kestrel is the only bird that hovers! I think it all depends on the definition of hovering.
I have only seen an osprey hover for a second or two as it prepares to dive. Buzzard will stay on an updraft for minutes but I've not seen one stay in exactly the same place like a kestrel does.
BTW, we don't have red-footed falcons in the UK - do you have them in Finland? I thought they were more Eastern than that.
I have only seen an osprey hover for a second or two as it prepares to dive. Buzzard will stay on an updraft for minutes but I've not seen one stay in exactly the same place like a kestrel does.
BTW, we don't have red-footed falcons in the UK
- do you have them in Finland? I thought they were more Eastern than that.
Mmm... but woodpigeons see in the ultraviolet spectrum as well and they don't hunt
Broch, deer have the same ability to see UV. Because I love to observe wildlife, I also wash my outdoor clothes in a detergent without scent or chemical brighteners. If you have a UV flashlight, you can use it to examine the clothing you wash in regular detergent. You will see the residue fluoresce - it's interesting to observe.
I don't know anything about woodpigeons. But deer in my area are crepuscular and nocturnal. They start to forage as the sun goes down. During this period, there's not much visible light. But UV light is still relatively strong. The prevailing theory is that deer's ability to see into the UV portion of the spectrum helps them operate at dusk and dawn. Do woodpigeons fly/forage/migrate at dusk/dawn/night?
- Woodsorrel
Yes we do have r-f falcons, very rare, I have seen maybe 3-4 times. Fairly common in Hungary and Romania where I have watched them. Seen them in Greece quite often.
Mmm... but woodpigeons see in the ultraviolet spectrum as well and they don't hunt
I believe that kestrels are the only bird of prey that can hover in still air; i.e. they don't need wind to keep them in place - whereas buzzards can only hover on an updraft for example. So, to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced that the kestrel would be a reliable wind vane - well, not any more reliable than a wet finger anyway.
whats the best non-modern washing powder to use?
I have resisted washing my jacket for quite some time, and just hang it to air if it gets dirty or leave it in the rain if its muddy etc.
Humming birds can fly backwards and hover to match the swings of a nectar feeder in any wind.
Check in the Cabela's catalog in the hunting section = they do sell detergents without "Optical Brighteners".
I wear snow camo for deer and late autumn Canada geese. I'm told that I'm invisible at any range (barrel cover, too.) In snow covered fields, I don't get very dirty to wash my shell clothes.
Check in the Cabela's catalog in the hunting section = they do sell detergents without "Optical Brighteners".
I wear snow camo for deer and late autumn Canada geese. I'm told that I'm invisible at any range (barrel cover, too.) In snow covered fields, I don't get very dirty to wash my shell clothes.
In the States you can get a military quality detergent that contains no 'brighteners' but I've not found the equivalent in the UK. Most eco-friendly claiming detergents don't contain the chemicals that brighten/whiten clothes but the only one I've tried is
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...rl-21&linkId=a7a90e83243913dccf1e5d5ec9b4980d
Though, to be honest, my Realtree clothing very very rarely sees a wash
I once told that the hen harrier is the only UK bird to properly hover. Something about wing motion rather than wind and aerofoil effect from wing shape assisting with uplift. No idea how true but if you define a hover as only due to wing motion then you probably rule out most birds.
Hummingbirds hover due to speed and motion of wing. Kestrel hovers using wind over its wings I guess. Does that mean it's not a true hover?
Hummingbirds hover due to speed and motion of wing. Kestrel hovers using wind over its wings I guess. Does that mean it's not a true hover?
Similar threads
