AT LONG LAST

Tree-Bone · Post by **Tree-Bone** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:41 pm

Finally got a shot of a Crested Caracara ! Life is good...

mudfish · Post by **mudfish** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:04 pm

Coolbeans! Never saw one before. Whereabouts was this?

skinnywater · Post by **skinnywater** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:41 pm

Cisco, all of the ones we have seen have been inland, mainly open pasture land, or prarie. Mostly along US 27 in Highlands county or along SR 70 east of Arcadia.

Chief1600 · Post by **Chief1600** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:03 pm

Very occasionally we see a couple of them out here in Duette. More often seen them going back and forth to Okeechobee along 98 East of 27. Very cool birds.

Tree-Bone · Post by **Tree-Bone** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:38 pm

This pair was over by Melbourne. That is probably the northern limit of their range in Fl. Okeechobee area has larger population. Very majestic looking bird for a scavenger.

Heywood · Post by **Heywood** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:59 pm

I've seen those Rick, in my travels down south. Its my goal to get a picture of one.

This might be a dumb question, but are they native to the US? I dont recall ever seeing one growing up here as a kid.

gatordave · Post by **gatordave** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:13 pm

I have tried to get a shot of them but they are very timid. The one you shot has leg bands, So maybe it was a rehab bird and it's not so timid. Great shot.

Rik · Post by **Rik** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:15 pm

They are a very impressive bird when in flight. I've seen them several times while driving through the middle of the state on SR 70

Tree-Bone · Post by **Tree-Bone** » Mon May 11, 2009 5:16 pm

Native to Mexico along both coasts and south eastern Texas. Range probably extends into Central America. Scarce in Florida and consentrated around Okochobee.
They like roadkill and feed alongside vultures.

Notice that this bird has 4 leg bands.

Hank · Post by **Hank** » Wed May 13, 2009 7:37 am

One of the top ten shots I have seen posted.
Not only a nice crisp shot but magical to get the pose like that. The bird was as interested in the camera as the camera was in it. 8)

mudfish · Post by **mudfish** » Wed May 13, 2009 10:53 am

Where'd the pic go?

Tree-Bone · Post by **Tree-Bone** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:24 pm

I finally took a closer look at my picture hosting site, PhotoBucket, and saw that everything posted is in "Public Domain". that means anyone can use my pictures and order prints on line without any compensation to me, the photographer. Not on my shift !
So last week I removed all pics from the site. I will now post low resolution pics with © and leave them there for a short period.
That is what happened to the pic. I'll post it again now for short period.

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Thu May 21, 2009 2:33 pm

Tree-Bone wrote:I finally took a closer look at my picture hosting site, PhotoBucket, and saw that everything posted is in "Public Domain".

Rick-

Go to account options and change your photobucket account to private.

shallow minded II · Post by **shallow minded II** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:00 pm

Looks like that bird has been "captured" before. Do I notice a green band & a blue band on its legs?

Tree-Bone · Post by **Tree-Bone** » Thu May 21, 2009 4:19 pm

Thanks Todd.
Yes, that bird had 4 leg bands. There was a mate but that bird was sitting in a different tree and I could not get a good look at it.
They were watching a Soft Shell turtle lay eggs and hoping for an easy meal. Crows beat them to it.