PRAIRIE FALCON 37 



A wounded falcon, or one who has changed her nesting site only to have the 

 new location discovered, can give an exhibition of unmistakable anger which defies 

 all attempt at description; but an overfed mid-October bird as it sits dreamily 

 on a roadside fence post is usually too utterly lacking in spirit to attempt any- 

 thing that requires more energy than a lazy flight to some more secluded perch _ 



Because so much of the time our only view of falcons and hawks is 

 while they are on the wing, the flight of the prairie falcon is of particu- 

 lar interest. It is direct and swift, with short, powerful beats of the 

 wings. Mr. Bent says that the prairie falcon "flies with rapid strokes 

 of its pointed wings, the strokes being more downward than upward, 

 with frequent spells of sailing." S. F. Rathbun writes that in eastern 

 Washington the normal flight is strong and even with "a succession 

 of rapid wing-strokes, then short glides" ; and that "when even a strong 

 wind is on its counter, the plane of its flight is not in the least affected. 

 At one time a bird hovered for a space above the sage, then made a 

 very wide sweep and returned to alight upon the surface of a freshly 

 fallowed field. In many of its flight actions the prairie falcon resem- 

 bles the sparrow hawk. Its hovering is identical and of common 

 occurrence. But the prairie falcon's dashing and rapid flight is what 

 gains a person's immediate notice and admiration." At another time 

 Mr. Rathbun wrote: "What tricks this bird can pull in the air! How 

 fast it flies! When one is close to it, you have a better appreciation of 

 its flight. I never enjoyed anything more than watching the flying of 

 these two birds. But at the speed they flew I would hate to have one 

 hit me." Nor is Mr. Rathbun alone in being impressed by the swift- 

 ness of this flight. J. G. Cooper noted it as long ago as 1870, and ever 

 since that date ornithologist after ornithologist has admired it. Its 

 flight has often been compared to that of the swift. As a rule there is 

 little circling except at great heights above the ground. In its descent 

 upon prey, the speed of the bird is so great as to be "as swift as an 

 arrow" and to earn for the bird the name of "bullet hawk." So rapid 

 is the swoop and so powerful the blow that the prey must often be 

 killed before it is at all aware of the danger. Over the foothills of 

 the Rocky Mountains I noted that the height of hunting falcons was 

 usually only 30 or 40 feet above ground; but when they did mount 

 into the air, over the more level valleys, they ascended very rapidly 

 and were soon lost to sight. Not only does the prairie falcon swoop, 

 but the speed of its flight is great enough to catch even rather swift 

 prey by direct pursuit. When it chooses to alight upon a high perch 

 it flies low and when close enough suddenly closes its wings and shoots 

 gracefully up to the desired height because of the speed already at- 

 tained. Naturally such marvelous fliers give graceful, wonderful 

 exhibitions near their nests. 



So far as the literature shows, Mr. Taverner was uniquely favored 

 when he found prairie falcons bathing. He (1919a) says: "They 



