adaptation

[sandra henderson <>]

I spend many hours each year watching the nest of one of the breeding pairs here in the ACT. Galahs are the main prey of the pair here.

Sandra, Canberra

On Saturday, 21 September 2019, Jla <> wrote:

Of the two Australian live Peregrine nestcams, Orange seems likely to have the widest possible variety of prey, including galahs & pigeons as largest I’ve so far seen. I agree that a galah would likely provide an Australian hunting challenge in adept flight & fiesty character (indeed, the tiercel there has brought in smaller prey). The Melbourne skyscraper eyrie set-up is good for seeing the almost-outlandish look of the female/falcon’s feet size – she’s close to cam as she crosses the ledge to/from the nest-scrape. (At this CBD site there’s lots of pigeon prey.) –

https://www.367collinsfalcons.com.au/

Thanks, all… Nothing definitive, but plenty to observe intimately these days, year-round live-cam comparisons of northern & southern hemisphere peregrines in breeding seasons. 
JLA

SEQ 500m

On Friday, 6 September 2019, Tania Ireton <m("ozemail.com.au","taniai");" target="_blank">> wrote:

I was told that the feet and legs are larger because the birds here hunt cockatoos and galahs and need that extra strength to subdue them.

On 6 Sep. 2019 09:39, Jla <m("gmail.com","jlukin01");" target="_blank">> wrote:

The Australian subspecies of peregrine, “macropus”, is described as being named thus for its large feet. No source I’ve read, though, says plainly that this peregrine’s feet are bigger than those of all other peregrines worldwide. 

Does anyone know, are the feet of “macropus” actually bigger than all other peregrines’? – & If so, what could the Australian peregrine have adapted to by evolving such big feet?

Thanks for your thoughts. 

JLA

SEQ 500m

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JudithLA

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JudithLA

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