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I kept my camera focused on this American kestrel as it sat on its stop sign hunting perch. Finally, it took off. I lost track of it for a few seconds, but quickly spotted it on one of its other favorite perches.
I've been watching this kestrel for several weeks and know several of its favorite perches, near Jordon Rd, in Cherry Creek State Park,
Colorado. On my way to work, I always check to see if its on one of the perches and I'm often rewarded with a shot. So knowing your subject is important. Also, being patient and waiting the 15-minutes for it to spot potential prey and take off is essential. Kestrel are surprisingly tolerant and are not disturbed as I sit in my car, close by, while other cars pass and some pedestrians come close, so long as they're not too close and don't focus on the bird.
I can't ID that bird-prey from underneath, but I think it's a chickadee or a sparrow. It's a bird-eat-bird world. The kestrel has to constantly watch for Merlin, Cooper's hawks, red-tails hawks and others that might eat it.
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