"Fight for Survival"

Here's an image that I created on Oct 3, 2016 along Highway 60 about 6 kilometers west of Barry's Bay, Ontario. As we drove down the road we noticed birds (mostly gulls and crows) seemed to be flying everywhere. Suddenly two birds spiraled down to the ground locked in a struggle. They broke apart and one, a juvenile herring gull took off and the other, a raptor, took off after it. The raptor quickly caught the gull in the air and they crashed again to the ground this time at the edge of the other side of the road at the landfill entrance. The raptor turned out to be a young Peregrine Falcon.

If you look closely you will note that the gull has the falcon's foot in its bill while the Peregrine tries to subdue it. This shot was taken early during the struggle. They fought for about 8 minutes before the gull appeared to finally give up. Shortly after that however the Peregrine broke off the attack. It didn't look like the gull would survive.

An incredible thing to witness first hand!

The Falcon looks like "what the hell!?"

Nice shot! We're practically neighbors.

Thank you Jethro. Have we met each other while out shooting anytime?

Awesome photograph, and great story too! Thanks for sharing.

Great story and a very nice photo.

We haven't met but live in the same end of the city.
I used to work with your friend Jim (found link to photo credit from you about page).

I'd like to get into more wildlife photography this year. Looks like a lot of fun.

Amazing shot! I'll be passing through Barry's Bay tomorrow on my way to Petawawa.

It's great to be in the right place at the right time. Good job.

Beekeeper wrote in post #18275175
Awesome photograph, and great story too! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Zack.

dm1215al wrote in post #18275234
Great story and a very nice photo.

Thank you DM.

Andrew61 wrote in post #18275397
Amazing shot! I'll be passing through Barry's Bay tomorrow on my way to Petawawa.

Thank you Andrew.

Mel-S wrote in post #18275852
It's great to be in the right place at the right time. Good job.

Thanks Mel.

What a great photo and story to match! It almost looks like the Falcon had the Gull's beak, rather than the Gull having the Falcon's foot! Would love to get shots like that one!

SJC from VT wrote in post #18276682
What a great photo and story to match! It almost looks like the Falcon had the Gull's beak, rather than the Gull having the Falcon's foot! Would love to get shots like that one!

Thank you Sandy. In the heat of the struggle it was likely a bit of both. From what I could tell as we saw them fall out of the air the Peregrine caught the gull but didn't mange to give it a stunning or killing blow thus the long struggle.

wow- awesome encounter

i think that falcon was going for a bit too big of a meal...can't imagine it would've actually been able to carry the gull if it did succeed in taking it out

great stuff, and must've been cool to see

CaptBob wrote in post #18277001
wow- awesome encounter

Thanks Bob

DreDaze wrote in post #18277012
i think that falcon was going for a bit too big of a meal...can't imagine it would've actually been able to carry the gull if it did succeed in taking it out
great stuff, and must've been cool to see

Thank you. It was very exciting to witness. I've seen photos of Peregrines with both gull and duck kills. I expect that they feed on large birds like that at the kill site and do not try to take the prey away.

Great shot Stephen and what an opportunity to see a raptor in action. Powerful birds.