THE EAGLE, KING OF BIRDS, AND HIS KIN 



49 



altitudes that they 

 appear as mere specks 

 against the blue 



The turkey vulture 

 is a well-known spe- 

 cies that is particu- 

 larly adept in this art. 

 In fact, it finds this 

 method of progres- 

 sion so adapted to its 

 needs that frequently 

 it remains in its roost 

 through the day when 

 the air is heavy and 

 still. 



The falcons have 

 longer, more pointed 

 wings, that enable 

 them to fly with great 

 speed, and, though 

 they may enjoy soar- 

 ing, they do not prac- 

 tice this so constantly 

 as the other hawks. 

 The larger species can 

 capture the swiftest- 

 flying sandpipers and 

 ducks on the wing 

 without the slightest 

 difficulty. 



THU DUCK HAWK IS A 

 DESPOT OF THE AIR 



The flight of the 

 d u c k hawk, perhaps 

 the best known of 

 the falcons, is truly 

 exhilarating to watch, 

 as it is executed with 

 a dash and vigor that 

 mark it from that 

 of all other birds. 

 On the Bear River 

 marshes, at the northern end of Great Salt 

 I^ake, in Utah, I have spent many hours 

 in observing this falcon, both in its hunt- 

 ing and when at play. 



The birds at rest perched in low wil- 

 lows, or on logs or bits of drift, where 

 they had clear view of the teeming bird 

 life about them. When hungry, they 

 dashed across the open flats at high speed, 

 striking ruthlessly at any birds that ap- 

 peared, from small sandpipers to large 

 ducks. 



Their appearance in the air was always 

 the signal for chattering cries of alarm 

 from blackbirds and avocets that put all 



Pliotograph by W. E. Finlcy and H. T. Bohlman 

 ALMOST READY TO LEAVE HOME 



This young golden eagle is about ready to fare forth from the 

 eyrie, which has been his home for two months, and start learning 

 how to make a living for himself out in the world. His parents are 

 stern but effective teachers, and when they finally drive him away 

 he will be well versed in the lore of the wild. 



their bird neighbors on the watch. These 

 warnings had little eft'ect, however, as the 

 duck hawk, killing practically at will, was 

 truly despot of this realm. 



I have seen this falcon dash through 

 closely massed flocks of flying sandpipers, 

 striking out two or three with as many 

 thrusts of the claws, allowing each bird 

 to drop and then wheeling swiftly to 

 seize the falling prey in mid-air before it 

 reached the ground. Again, I have seen 

 one in a stoop, swift almost as light, knock 

 a redhead duck to the ground, where it 

 landed with a broken wing and other 

 injuries. 



