Southern (Crested( Caracaras are classified as falcons but they certainly act more like vultures. They tend to scavenge prey/road kill. On our way to our glacier walk we came upon a hare that had been killed by who knows what but was being scavenged by at least 15 caracaras. Unfortunately it wasn't even sunrise and so very dark. I had my 400 5.6 on the 7D and tried to get some shots without going over iso 1600. I even went to my 70-200 f4 but the reach obviously was sacrificed. I really did not want to use flash so this was the best I could get. So please excuse the quality of the photos....these are more for documentary purposes than great photography.
Eric
I drove 2 hours to wait 2 more to find ONE Caracara. That surely is more a hardship than flying from NY to Argentina You have to wonder about our friend CT
Wonderful documentary shots Eric. I would love to have been there myself. 4 goes beyond and is a wonderful photograph. For some reason 3 made me laugh
As for Vulture or Falcon...I've seen a Peregrine pick up a dead bird that it didn't kill.
An excellent series, Eric. #4 is a real standout for me.
I know nothing about caracaras except they have a hooked beak and are pretty spectacular looking.
In the real world of survival, I suspect that most predator bird species will scavenge rather than starve to death. Caracaras may be simply adjusting to the recent phenomenon called "road kill." Blackbirds and ravens sure have.
Charlie
Conrad Tan wrote:
I drove 2 hours to wait 2 more to find ONE Caracara. Here you had a buttload in a single effort. I'm so jealous Woohoo!!!
Damn if I knew how hard it was for you to see ONE I would have called you and waited with them till you got down
Eric
Karl Witt wrote:
The lineup on the posts look like wind vanes
Falcons or Vultures ...............Scavengers!
Nice roadside work buddy!
Karl
Thanks Karl....if we weren't on a schedule to get to a boat by a certain time I would have hung out to get some good light...oh well
Eric
Tim Kuhn wrote: I drove 2 hours to wait 2 more to find ONE Caracara. That surely is more a hardship than flying from NY to Argentina You have to wonder about our friend CT
Wonderful documentary shots Eric. I would love to have been there myself. 4 goes beyond and is a wonderful photograph. For some reason 3 made me laugh
As for Vulture or Falcon...I've seen a Peregrine pick up a dead bird that it didn't kill.
Tim
Thanks Tim...too much going against me getting really good shots. No light, short lens and a camera that I don't really trust to go above iso 800 but had to push just to get at f4 and a slow but acceptable shutter speed.
But if you think about it, very few raptors come together like this at a kill. It wasn't just the scavenging it was the number of birds in one place.
Eric
kmunroe wrote:
the last is my favorite Eric
Thanks Ken, it is mine as well. I was able to get a bit closer and so the settings were more favorable.
Eric
Charlie Shugart wrote:
An excellent series, Eric. #4 is a real standout for me.
I know nothing about caracaras except they have a hooked beak and are pretty spectacular looking.
In the real world of survival, I suspect that most predator bird species will scavenge rather than starve to death. Caracaras may be simply adjusting to the recent phenomenon called "road kill." Blackbirds and ravens sure have.
Charlie
Thanks so much Charlie. I think Caracaras will hunt but are more likely to be scavengers. I saw one unsuccessfully hunting a dove...photos to follow (but no dove included )
Eric
You have to wonder about our friend CT 
)