Visit by juvenile Prairie Falcon

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I found this young Prairie Falcon near my friend's farm just east of Canon City, CO day before yesterday. Though this areas was once the western edge of the shortgrass prairie ecosystem in southeast Colorado, almost all the prairie was converted either long ago to farms or more recently to large acreage residences (I call them sprawlettes) so we don't usually see Prairie Falcons here. I suspect this young falcon may have just stopped over briefly as it was exploring for some place to establish it's territory. This photo gives a good view of the distinctive dark axillaries that are diagnostic when the bird is viewed from below. More photos in next post. SeEtta

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