2010 Pictures from the Rfalconcam cameras

[Donna]

(movie) Moon shots!

You can also see the moon at the end of Wednesday's daily QuickTime movie:

http://shakymon.com/daily/Camera1_LowRes.mov

Cool! Thanks.

[Joyce]

The same? Not to me.

So are both these pics Beauty?  Her head doesn't look that dark here.

Carol P created a comparison slide and asked local watchers what they thought.  My initial reaction was that it was Beauty.  Then I started to wonder too, but I couldn't find anything specific to differentiate the two. 

So, I put on my Sherlock hat (love doing that investigative stuff), and I created a second comparison slide using a different shot from Mar 1. Backs of both falcons are facing the camera.  I warmed up Carol's Mar 3 pic so the feathers were closer in color.

When I zoomed in on the Mar 3 falcon, I noticed an irregular feather.  I went back through the pictures posted of Beauty from the Main Cam.  I created a new side with comparison of the feather from four different shots of the back feathers. My conclusion...it is Beauty.

~Joyce

1)       2)       3)

[Bird Crazy]

 

[MAK]

Good job Joyce!    bguitar

[Kris G.]

        Great detective work, Joyce!

[Donna]

Are you serious? Those two pics look completely different. So both the pics I posted are both Beauty?? Amazing Joyce. I'm impressed with your findings. Thanks, now I can rest easier. 

[valhalla]

    Great detective work!

[Carol P.]

Too funny Joyce.  I knew my initial comparison picture would get you going.   

[DianaR]

True, that irregular feather occurs in photos of Beauty. Just a thought, though. Are we sure it does not occur in any other falcons?

[Joyce]

Hi Diana,

You raise a good point, and I believe other falcons have certain feathers shaped like that as well - for aerodynamics in flying.  I looked at other photos with a falcon's back to the camera, but I could not find an identical match to the one's I posted.

Below is Kaver and Mariah, and Tybropa Cree (CP).  I don't see the same pattern.  However, without seeing bands, we may never know for sure, but I had fun trying.  There have been a few times times from the ground the watchers did not think we were watching Beauty.  She looked lighter, but we eventually confirmed it was her.

~Joyce

     

[Kris G.]

Hi Diana,

You raise a good point, and I believe other falcons have certain feathers shaped like that as well - for aerodynamics in flying.  I looked at other photos with a falcon's back to the camera, but I could not find an identical match to the one's I posted.

Below is Kaver and Mariah, and Tybropa Cree (CP).  I don't see the same pattern.  However, without seeing bands, we may never know for sure, but I had fun trying.  There have been a few times times from the ground the watchers did not think we were watching Beauty.  She looked lighter, but we eventually confirmed it was her.

~Joyce

     

And I think that's a good point, Joyce.  The lighting between the 2 pics was different-one being darker than the other.

[Bird Crazy]

Wow I never realized how much Tybropa Cree looked like Kaver.    Things could of been so different if.....

[Donna]

yeah, you better leave quick.

[Kris G.]

yeah, you better leave quick.

I don't think he's too worried, Donna. Beauty hasn't been seen there for a few days.  Wonder where she is?

[Donna]

yeah, you better leave quick.

I don't think he's too worried, Donna. Beauty hasn't been seen there for a few days.  Wonder where she is?

I hear ya but still, I wouldn't want to land on or near a Falcon's nest.    No clue where Beauty could be. Looking for a man probably.