Adults Banded

Today we went out with a Department of Conservation manager and captured and banded a family of five falcons. The chicks were just as funny and cute as last time. Shane and Rich also caught the two adults. This was the first time we caught adults. They are actually about the same weight as the older chicks, but the adults are a tightly wound steel springs of muscle, instead of puffy balls of chubbiness. All of the measurements are the same, but the process is different. The chicks can just sit in your lap while you work, but the adults have to be tightly held and watched. I did not actually try to process them; I just watched Rich. As adults, their talons and beak are capable of doing some damage. We were able to release them all and it was a rather successful day.