Peregrine Falcons Hunt Pigeon in High Speed Chase | 4K Narrated Film
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- čas přidán 8. 03. 2024
- Without doubt, this Peregrine hunt was the best I've ever witnessed.
Their behavior prior to this was relaxed, preening and gazing over the river. I watched as the male took to the skies and begin gaining height. As he ascended higher into the sky, I knew he was hunting. During the ascent, he didn’t flap his wings once, instead circling, using the thermals to conserve energy.
He then began flapping fast from left to right in one direction and was clearly after something. The white feral pigeon came into my viewfinder and the chase started. It lasted 59 seconds, far longer than any attack I have witnessed before.
The female then joined the chase, but against all the odds the pigeon managed to swerve and avoid the relentless stoops from the Peregrine pair, as they returned to the cliffs empty handed.
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Thanks everyone for your comments, I read each and every one! I witnessed another Peregrine hunt last year, although that time it was successful, catching the pigeon only one hundred metres away from me - watch here: czcams.com/video/scuJYfYYsew/video.htmlsi=503xM7lOuqsjt_b_
Very interesting to see the Falcons don't always win the game. Glad you showed the pigeon winning for once.
Their success rate isn't as high as your might think!
Believe it or not, most predators have a success rate of less than 5%. Preseverence and discipline is what keeps them alive, not their sheer predatory prowess
ignore the haters Henry, I'm a 62 year old brit who's been a passionate birder and nature lover all my life. There are plenty of us out there that were absolutely riveted by that footage, and we understand why you do it, and how difficult it is. Great stuff...keep going and good luck !
Thanks for watching and appreciate your comment. You obviously understand how rare it is to see Peregrine's attempting to make a kill, and more often than not is out of sight!
Yeah it is man thank you for providing such a video❤@@henrykirkwoodfilmmaking
Same here my friend
Never underestimate the perfection of the pigeon. Agility and resistance make it a very difficult prey.
A healthy wild pigeon is a tough prey and the film proves it
Never underestimate the stupidity of a pigeon either. They fly directly in front of cars. SPLAT.
The pigeon evolved in the absence of cars, therefore it does not always know how to evaluate danger. Generally it is young pigeons that fall victim to our frenzy. In reality, the pigeon has benefited greatly from the wild anthropisation of the planet by invading man.
It is in nature that the pigeon reveals all its potential through which nature has evolved it.
The pigeon is the perfect bird and human parameters have no value...
@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne Never underestimate the stupidity of car drivers either. They collide with other car drivers constantly. MEAT PRESSAAAH.
@@AlessandroPasotti did you seriously just copy and paste this off google to make your self look smarter that's rather pathetic cobber 🤣🤣🤣
@@AlessandroPasotti your prefect bird also makes prefect crab pot bait 🦀🦀
Superb job of filming this ordeal for the Pigeon, shows how smart the peregrines are but also just what incredible flyers Pigeons are..
The rock dove, aka pigeon, has evolved to stay just out of reach of the peregrine who had to evolve a strategy to catch them ie the stoop from above. Pigeons are more manoeuvrable than falcons hence the fantastic ‘dog fights’ we sometimes witness. Remember, no city pigeons means no city peregrines. Long may both grace our skies and thanks you Henry for putting this film together, keep it up. 👏
Designed.
Thanks, will do!
@@kathy888 by whom?
A fantastic crime thriller, thank you very much for this adventure!
I had no idea it was a competition. A pigeon can evade a peregrine falcon? 😳 Mind blown!
I think the group of 3 birds caused distraction helping the pigeon evade falcon.
@@seanlee7563 - Possible but unlikely. It's not like they were close. That pigeon was isolated. They should've been able to focus and I think they did focus. I just underestimated the pigeon I guess.
That is not the pigeon first rodeo
Thats amazing, that thing reaches its top speed from about 6000 feet in the air. Without rockets and fancy gadgets.Simply amazing.
I used to live near the top of Sussex Heights in Brighton which has resident nesting peregrines. They used to bring back a lot of starlings and once a female mallard! I witnessed a dramatic chase with a black headed gull over Brighton pier which escaped. Funny enough, I never saw them bring back a pigeon! Fascinating and enthralling video. Thank you.
That is absolutely AMAZING camera work - and fortuitous timing! Stone cold killers, these falcons.
Pigeons are gifted flyers in their own right!
Since 1983 Peregrine Falcons have established themselves in Manhattan, New York. They are sometimes seen nesting on the window ledges of buildings.
Same in my city. There are three families nesting on buildings near where I live. We find remnants of their meals on sidewalks.
We have peregrines in a local quarry. One evening a pigeon flew past me so close I could feel the wind of passing. Almost immediately, and travelling much faster followed a peregrine. I felt the wind of its passing much more closely but the pigeon was making for a tree and just got there in time!
What a treat!
I live in Boise Idaho. Home to the world center for birds of prey. The falcons still use the hack boxes established in the eighties on the high rise buildings in downtown. We don’t have very many pigeons in downtown. I don’t think pigeons win very often. Everyone should watch the zefrank video on pigeons. They’re exceptional birds!
What a sequence! Half of me sees the pigeon as a pest and the other half admires the raptor! Marvellous filming and editing which must have taken ages. ... and I was still relieved when the pigeon escaped!
Bravo...you did well keeping the whole scene in frame... what a natural sight to witness...that pigeon has super powers evading the two of them and bravo to him for keeping his head and escaping...superb work.
Superbly done Henry 👏 I watched this on my iPhone and then cast it to my tv to see the build up of the battle in detail. It makes you aware that the hunting of a pigeon (unless taken by surprise) is a battle and not just a single attack. They have to work hard for their calories and calculate the whole fall from their initial stoop right down to the trees. Amazing to see how skilled the pigeon is, fighting for its life. Natural selection in action here. Well done, good sound track too. Thank you!
I was surprised the pigeon made evaded the attempted grabs, especially when the female joined the chase too. Thanks, thanks for the positive feedback and definitely a good idea casting to your TV!
Fantastic filming. A few years ago I saw a Woodpigeon "explode" in the air, a shower of feathers that looked like an explosion, and it fell to earth (roughly 12M). I assumed it had struck the overhead power cable, then the Peregrine landed next to it. I hadn't seen it at all before then. We get them here sometimes, I feel privaledged when I see them.
That's a great video! The camera work was amazing. Thank you for uploading. Peace. Out.
Stunning photography absolutely stunning!
Thank you :)
Splendid, beautiful work, Henry. Keep it up. You have an extraordinary talent.
Thanks a lot :)
Quality stuff and great tension with the music! I never thought the pigeon would escape! Where we live on Hong Kong island, there was a peregrine falcon nesting on one of the balconies of a vacant flat in the building we live in and it was quite something to observe it taking to the skies and picking fights with black kites much larger than itself!
Wonderful footage! I used to watch these Avon Gorge peregrines hunting every summer and I was amazed at their teamwork strategy. I would often see the tiercel pursuing prey and then the female would just appear like a missile, you'd see a puff of feathers and then the one closest to the prey would fly off with it to their plucking post. We did see the tiercel catch a swift once (which I thought would be impossible), but just goes to show how fast they really are!
I''ve heard they catch swifts, crazy to think this is possible given their size and manoeuvrability.
Definitely worth a sub! Much love for your work from Kenya🇰🇪 ❤
Wauw, what a boss that pigeon is!
I know peregrine falcon are the fastest bird, but in this clip they were outsmart by a simple pigeon
I am fascinated by and terrified of that bird! Amazing animal!
wonderful! The painstakingly filmed documentary is truly impressive.
I also love peregrine falcons.
Excelllent video, the aerobatics of both birds is amazing to watch. Mother Nature has it figured out. Subscribed.
We have peregrine falcons that hunt the birds in our yard. Sometimes there’s feathers on the ground in the morning of some hapless mourning dove or other bird. I once had a small bird pass by my face so close I felt the wind from its feathers as a falcon was in hot pursuit and brushed past my face a microsecond later rolling over and clutching the smaller bird in its talons. All this happened right in front of my face which although cruel in the death of the smaller bird was also fascinating to witness. Big red tailed hawks nest year after year nearby in addition to the swainsons hawk and prairie falcons. I have observed America kestrels nearby and very rarely snowy owls very early in spring. Our home in south east British Columbia is home to so many birds of all types that it provides endless hours of fascination for me. Tanagers, American gold finches, lazuli buntings, caisons finch, western blue birds, western meadow larks, northern flickers, Pygmy owls and occasional yellow winged black birds visit the pond for baths and drinks. Luckily the hawks don’t concentrate their hunting in the yard because it certainly dampens the bird activity till they’re gone.
Thanks for your comment, sounds like you really know your birds in SE BE, I've heard of none of those you mention!
That was nerve-racking‼️😬 Poor Pigeon.
Magnificent!
I’ve spent over 40 years watching peregrines in the southwestern USA, hunting off cliffs ranging from 100 m high to almost 800 m. 2,600 feet American. These two peregrines were not serious about catching that pigeon. They were playing, practicing, &/or bonding. If they were even slightly hungry, that pigeon would have been caught. I watch peregrines taking white-throated swifts, which are much faster and more maneuverable than any pigeons. And much less meat. Peregrines hit them so hard they sometimes cut them in two, then grab the pieces as they fall.
Pigeons evolved over millions of years on rocky cliffs surrounded by falcons. They are great flyers.
Outstanding capture! ❤
Great footage.
fastest bird in the world........
of course, the pigeon... very fast, skillful, intelligent and brilliant. And two against one. Cowards!
Not just fastest bird, fastest warm blood!
*animal
Correction.. FASTEST CREATURE IN THE WORLD.
It’s just using GRAVITY, not powerful wings or muscles that make it so fast.
Great stuff Henry! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
Excellent - thanks. What a magnificent raptor.
Wow, amazing footage!
Rad channel dude, subbed straight away
He probably evaded, but likely got cut badly in the process and is exhausted. The falcon on the other hand is probably not that tired and because it was built to use that momentum with less effort.
Never in my life did I think I would find myself rooting for a pigeon.
Excellent work sir!
This makes me emotional. Thanks for sharing.
This is remarkable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slow is fast, fast is slow. The way he ascended, majestic.
Very dramatic, amazing to see the whole hunt. I help run the Cromer Peregrine watchpoint, so many times the Peregrines launch opportunistic attacks on the pigeons around the church, and they almost always evade the Peregrines, and yet I have seen Peregrines take pigeons with the greatest of ease, taking the bird at the the very first strike. It's so rewarding to show these fabulous birds to the general public. Keep on producing these fantastic films!
Thanks so much for your comment, Julian. Funnily enough, I had the Cromer Peregrine live cam on in the background this morning! Interesting observation about the peregrines hunting opportunistically, I know they hunt in this way but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it at my local watch point. They always circle strategically way up into the sky and go after their prey that way. Sounds like you’re doing good work with the public, thanks again for the comment!
The most surreal, high-stakes game of two-hand touch football ever.
That’s incredible footage.
I am fortunate to see a pair every day as they live and hunt where I work. They area beautiful sight to see.
Excellent photography of cooperative hunting by a pair of peregrines. Many film makers often feel obligated to show the kill where as you showed the reality.
Authenticity it key 🔑
Absolutely brilliant video I was gripped to the story. Awesome video and music. I had to sub and like and look forward to more.
Thanks for watching, will hopefully have a Peregrine ringing video out late June 🙂
Great footage, my uncle always had birds of prey throughout my childhood and I have been lucky enough to witness this sort of thing first hand, it’s not easy to capture this kind of hunt but you did a great job!
I did my university dissertation on raptors, truly magnificent animals and there is another world up in the sky that the majority of people are completely blind to.
Awesome job!
Wonderful, such an amazing work
great effort mate
This was amazing! Hollywood could not match the aerobatics and near misses. I loved the framing to give the big picture of the falcon tactics as well as the pigeons. For those that had difficulty seeing the birds I would tell them that not all videos were meant to be watched on cell phones. It was crisp and clean on my 13" MacBook Pro laptop. I hope you make more superb videos like this one.
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you about those watching on iPhones, probably can't see much, played in 4K on a laptop or monitor will show it best. More videos on the way :)
Henry. I took a Falconry course with Ben long in Gloucester last July and the Perigrines i fell in love with. One even shared my name!!! Their agility, small size but brain busting speed left me in awe. This was truly a battle royale captured and narrated superbly. Please keep these coming. I will have to do the next course now after this!!
Hi Martin, thanks for watching and the positive feedback. I've got a one hour documentary about the Peregrines coming out in the next year or so. They are spectacular birds and great to know you appreciate them too!
Hi Henry. Thanks for the info. Look fwd to it. I'm trying out this bird sound app here in ash down forest. 16 types already! Trying to find the spot where I see a falcon... Red tail I think, flying daily. But probably tucked up high by now. Going to get my camera out soon and enjoy this place. You've got a great career. Thank you for sharing with us all
I saw one of the nesting peregrines take out a pigeon in a high speed dive off the top of the US Bank building (42 stories) in Portland, Oregon in 1995. He or she hit it at about the 7th floor above the sidewalk. Amazing! The pigeon never had a chance, never even knew what hit it. Seeing that was one of the most breathtaking moments of my life. The only reason I saw it was that I was about a block away and I don't think that anybody that was underneath the pigeon walking on the sidewalk even knew what happened either.
Wow, great story! Thanks for sharing. Were you walking at ground level when you saw it take the pigeon, and just happened to be looking up?
WoW, impressive. It is like watch a combat airplanes combat movie "Dogfight" . Filmed that is so good we can watch it. Thanks for shared it.
Thanks for comment!
Loved the shot selection and the sequencing Henry! Thanks for sharing 🙏
Thanks Anoop :)
Amazing footage!! I have seen many peregrine chases and even catches in my life (most times in urban settings), but never have I been so lucky to have my camera nearby.
I regularly watch a pair of Peregrine Falcons in my town and I've seen them almost take out some potential prey but never seen them caught any yet personally. Pigeons can be difficult to catch.
Nice work and Photography
Great
The Peregrine couple didn’t know they were dealing with a pigeon with a g-suit and high-g wing struts! That was a classic bird version of BFM (basic fighter maneuvers). But I’m a bit doubtful about whether this was hunting. My understanding is that Peregrines generally attain attack altitude and “stoop” into a dive, just one, that’s designed to actually directly impact the bird from above, not fly behind it and attempt to grab as these did. The Peregrine basically hits and disables the bird and grabs it when it spirals to the earth. Regardless, a very dramatic film! At my Alma mater, the Air Force Academy, our mascot was the Peregrine falcon and we had cadets who tended the falcons and trained them to entertain at halftime of football games. One year USAFA played a football game in Japan and the falcons entertained as usual. But one of them “flew away” (the cadets always chanted “fly away” in hopes they would escape) and despite locators, could not be found and was feared lost. But that enterprising falcon basically few east and later landed on an east-bound freighter far at sea in the Pacific. The crew contacted someone who contacted someone else and eventually, believe it or not, that falcon was eventually recovered by the Academy! USAFA falconry program details here: www.usafa.edu/natures-fighter-pilots-attract-attention-of-future-cadets/
Amazing story, thanks for sharing! Peregrine's don't adopt the same hunting strategy during each hunt, they adapt. They do stoop and hit at speed like you said (although I still have never seen this), but I have seen them take prey by simply flying behind them and catching them up. They were definitely trying to catch the pigeon, as on a few occasions they stretched out their talents in an attempt to grab it. If they were juveniles, then the likelihood is this would have been a mock hunt, practicing only. Thanks for watching.
Awesome job Henry! Love peregrines!!
Cheers Dom :)
Great work, really fascinating to watch - I’ve never seen such extended coverage of how peregrines sometimes repeatedly chase prey without success.👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice one Henry!
Excellent video and recording 💕❤️
Wonderful
Wow!! That was intense! Thank you for the lesson in humility. Good stuff!
Thanks Clay :)
Well, that was an unexpected plot twist 😮😊
i love how the pigeons from the directv commercial pop up before this clip
We have Peregrine Falcons in our area and when they hit a Pigeon it sounds like a fastball hitting a bat! Just a loud thump! I live in a city.
Wow. I’ve never seen that before & I’m an avid birder! Thank you! 🙏
Glad you liked it!
Good job getting a shot of the fastest bird in the world. What camera are u using?
Thanks, Sony A7Siii 👍
Seriously the pigeon escape !!!???? With all that crazy acro ?
I follow a married pair of peregrines in Illinois for the past 4 years. She(Louise just hatched 3 2 days ago).Magnificent predators.
Awesome capture of this hunt. Nice to see the female joining in.
Nice one, Henry! I must apologise - I do not know where 'James' came from. Goodness me.
I watch for these most days and see them a couple of times a week. My first sighting was a wonder to behold, and it contained all the major dramatic parts. The static, motionless hover up high, the intense scrutiny, dinner observed, then the stoop.
He came down one day and I couldn't see any prey, until a pigeon, obviously caught unawares and in a flat panic flew up and tried to evade the Peregrine's lightning arc. They both vanished down below the visible land and nothing reappeared, so I guess dinner was enjoyed.
The other day, he was up there watching and wheeling alone, when a buzzard loped into the picture. The Peregrine got the total hump, he'd already put some time in and now this thing turns up looking for some easy pickings. He started arcing and flashing around the larger bird who barely flicked a feather..👍
Thanks for your stories, Peregrine's really don't like buzzard's, but then again no bird likes a buzzard!
DFC for the pigeon.
Excellent filming! Bravo!
Thank you!
What does the eagle hit its prey with , and doesn't it hurt the eagle do it often
magnificent record....
A Peregrine Falcon was in my back yard eating a Pigeon , I was amazed !
I just can't with some of the comments. I would like to give them a piece of my mind, but I don't want to encourage them.
That was an amazing video! It's so rare to even see many birds of prey if you don't know when and where to look, let alone witness them do casual things, like hunting, without them being bothered by onlooker(s). And you managed to catch the hunt on camera, even when they were hundreds of meters in the air! The narration and music were on point, too! Good work!
Thanks a lot for the comment :) agreed, I've spent so much time observing them and they will fly back with prey on a few occasions through the day, but I very rarely see them hunting near where I park myself!
An amazing video..👍👍👍
I have a question...........why was the pigeon that high? ive never seen one fly like that.
So inspiring💪
Pigeon is an ace pilot who fought F22 with its own Mig21.
Fantastic Footage 👍
Fantastic footage. I had the opportunity to watch two Golden Eagles working in tandem to catch and kill wild turkeys here in my home state of Idaho. The turkeys were situated within a grove of evergreens, and the Eagles would take turns plunging down from the trees and initiating the attack. Eventually one turkey made the mistake of venturing outside the grove of trees and became their dinner. I wish I could have captured the moment on film.
Wow, no that would be a sight. Are they wild Turkey's?
@@henrykirkwoodfilmmaking yes, they were wild turkeys. It was an amazing experience. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
@@Bdub1952 incredible, they must be the same size as an eagle if not bigger! Thanks for watching :)
@@henrykirkwoodfilmmaking yes they were! Thank you for the amazing film work! Keep up the great job!
4K is great but what about a telephoto lens? Most of this video shows small, dark pinpoint objects moving at what seem to be relatively low speeds - at this distance!
Is that a swift the smaller version of the Peregrine falcon.
Pigeons are fast, not to be caught in straight chase.
That pigeon was raised in nyc, survive here survive anywhere😂
Amazing video. It must be difficult to follow with a camera at that distance. I live near a small bay. One morning I watched one of the local peregrine falcons in pursuit of a small duck in flight. The falcon nearly had the duck, then blew off the attack for no apparent reason. Just practicing, I guess.
Thanks for the comment, may have been a juvenile practicing his hunting skills!
This was epic. Manual focus the high up attack?
Thanks, yep all manual focus :)
Henry the filming & storytelling is superb, congrats. I recognse the location. atb Alan
Thanks Alan, appreciate your comment!
Learn something new everyday..... never knew a pigeon stood a chance against these falcons.....🤔😎🇦🇺👌