[LCorbett]

I've posted some reference photos on my site of a black morph gyrfalcon chick that I took a while back. I had the honor to help imprint her, so, with my friend's approval took some reference photos. Never know when they may come in handy. Anyway...they're interesting "baby pictures" of a magnificent bird in her "dopey" phase...

Black Morph Gyrfalcon Chick

[AlArchie]

Wow, Lori, how fortunate you are to have had that experience! And what a wonderfull series of photos. Will you post some when the chick has reached adult stage?

Thanks so much for posting those. Absolutely beautiful.

Al

[Nancy-ID]

Wow, Lori! Awsome photos and bird. ending even though it is nature at work. I think I would like to try carving her someday with your permission of course.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

thats gyrneat! Thanks LOL

[Hugh]

Great Photos Lori. Can't imagine carving that little bird, and having it come out looking something like real life. The feet and bill amazed me with the already developed detail. Thanks

[LCorbett]

Al...I didn't get any photos of her in her full flight gear. I assumed there woud be time for that later. Unfortunately, "later" was too late...she was killed by an eagle during her training.

Nancy...be my guest!

Dave...good one! As always.

Hugh...Great catch! That was something that intrigued me, as well. Fully developed feet on legs that couldn't support her. And believe me, that beak WAS formidable, even at that young age. And her eyesight...well. It was fun watching her track birds flying over her enclosure...even then, she knew what she was about.

[AlArchie]

Wierd you should mention the eagle....years ago (well, not THAT many) I was out walking and watching the ravens harrassing an eagle, flying overhead and swooping down, pecking at him. All of a sudden it appeared as if the eagle just stopped in mid air, swung his talons directly around in front and over, and snagged that raven right out of the air.

I've been reall lucky getting to wittness a lot of nature at her best.

Al

[Nancy-ID]

Thank you Lori for giving your permission to carve her. I think I will start soon. One thing I find interesting is the melanotic gene she carries.I don't know maybe many wild birds do. I breed Silkies, the only chicken to possess the gene. They are considered sacred, medicinal, among the Asian community.

[Linda L]

Lori and all, your post just gave me an idea.

Our summer place is on the salt water in Puget Sound here in Washington State. For the past ten years we have had the same pair of Seagulls nest on our roof. Normally we have 3 babies. They hatch right around the fourth of July.

This year it just happened that we spent most of the summer there and I got my new digital camera! I took over 600 photos of them from "Gertrude and Heathcliff" sitting on the nest to first hatch day and every step until they finally left home. They became so comfortable with me that I was feeding them dogfood and meat scraps from my hand on our deck. Actually, too friendly! Got pictures of them in my kitchen! Fed them and they wanted more and followed me into the house!

Anyway, I have some beautiful pictures of the babies and the adults if anyone is interested. I took closeups with my zoom lens of the eyes, beaks and feathers as well as head shots. (check my Avatar, that's Gertrude.) Don't know what I am going to do with all the pictures! I really became attached to them. My granddaughter named this year's brood "Harry, Ron and Hermione" after the Harry Potter series. I'll probably print the good ones and do a story book of the timeline of their growth.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in pictures of seagulls, let me know!

Linda

[Dylan]

Great Pictures Lori. That's to bad about the eagle.

Dylan