SHOOT OR DUCK!?
- lscott20
- Apr 12
- 1 min read
My heart was pounding, my palms were sweating, my mind was racing almost as fast as the bird! Ok - I'm being overly dramatic, but when the world's fastest animal heads straight for you, you have but a split second to decide whether to keep shooting or DUCK!
My Trusty Scout and I were recently out scouting future birding locations when I noticed a female Peregrine Falcon perched about 75 yards away. Although the lighting wasn't ideal, I decided to take a "documentary shot." I lifted my camera and snapped a picture just as she turned towards me. Honestly, it all happened so quickly that I didn't have time to react—my reflexes kicked in. With my camera firing off at 12 frames per second, I managed to capture six shots—six brief moments before she was gone—all in just half a second! And no, she really wasn't gunning for me. I just happened to be in her flight path at that particular moment.
And yes, it's true! Peregrine Falcons are the world's fastest animal with diving speeds of more than 200 mph! Compare that to a Cheetah, which is the world's fastest LAND animal. It can reach speeds of 75 mph - but only for short bursts. You call THAT fast? 😉
-Peregrine Falcon, female
Wow! This is the perfect shot, especially considering how fast these Peregrin Falcons are!! It must be amazing to see them in flight, not to mention diving.
What a thrill!
Incredible shot, Leigh! You are such a talented photojournalist of avian life and I enjoy each and every beautiful photo and cleverly crafted supporting story. Thank you for continuing to educate and add beauty to the world.