When I viewed this American Kestrel photo my first thought was if this isn’t a “get off my lawn look” then I have never seen a get off my lawn look from anyone.
American Kestrel Get Off My Lawn look – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I truly don’t know what the female American Kestrel was looking at, but this species isn’t known for having a “soft” gaze. Instead, these colorful kestrels often look like they are intent on capturing and dispatching their prey. More than a few people might call the gaze of these pint sized falcons piercing, intense, and unwavering.
I didn’t have the female American Kestrel in my viewfinder for long. Because I locked onto her so quickly I did make my time with her count though. With only twenty some images of her on this perch I felt grateful to have gotten this one where she looked so fierce and powerful.
While I wish that she had stayed on this branch longer and that she had faced me when she lifted off, I’m not complaining. Close images of birds have been more difficult for me to take lately due to finding fewer of them than I have in previous years.
If this kestrel was truly giving me a “get off my lawn” look I really couldn’t blame her. Not with all the habitat destruction that is happening, the noise, the intrusions, and what is occurring to her “lawn” because of climate change.
I can’t say I’d blame the kestrel for telling me to not only get off her lawn but out of the entire state of Utah. I wouldn’t blame her one bit.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Kestrel photos plus facts and information about this species.
The Kestrel’s look reminds of that old Ray Charles song, “Hit the Road Jack…don’t you come back, no more, no more…”. Great shot; beautiful bird. Thanks Mia.
She is lovely. My recent trip down south really depressed me with all the growth. I spent a lot of time in Washington where there is a road called Washington Fields. Birding in the area use to be fabulous due to all the open farming fields but now it is so developed it is a sea of rooftops, plowed leveled planes readying for more development, roads, Mormon churches and a new temple. I feel a pang of guilt at the same time, we have a second home in St George built in 2003 in an area that use to be lovely river bottom by the Santa Clara River. I remember driving a dirt road in that area in the 1980’s it was such a lovely riparian area.
You do come up with interesting thoughts as to what they may be thinking. Love them. Thanks for the posting.
Feisty Falconess! Can’t blame her for wanting everyone out of her yard. Or maybe just certain politicians.