A tale of the Aplomado falcon 

© Jon Irvine

 

 

 

 

 

My story begins in New Mexico in 2014. As an Englishman, even the name Aplomado evoked the thought of an exotic falcon similar to my native Peregrine and along the lines of a European Hobby. After many years of travel, and having been wrangled by a wicked cowgirl, who bushwacked me into buying a piece of desert situated below the Magdalena mountains - I became the proud co-owner of a small patch of New Mexico - exactly 165 acres. We were aware of the possibility of the Aplomado finding its way to our little ranch, and were vigilant, being entertained by other magnificent raptors; Golden Eagle, Goshawk, American Kestrel and even Turkey Vultures.Then one day, whilst driving out to more civilised locations for supplies, over the dirt road at the end of the property and only a few kilometers as the bird flies from the Armendaris Ranch, we spotted a small contender raptor flying above. Braking the jeep and creating the usual dramatic cloud of orange dust, the bird took a upward swing to a high power cable and the falcon became briefly visible. Could it be the elusive Aplomado?  

The beautiful Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico, USA

The northern subspecies of Falco Femoralis septenrionalis tend to be somewhat heavier and nearer to Falco Peregrinus in mass, and this is reflected by its prey spectrum.The southern lighter subspecies Aplomado, are slight and similar to the Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo, reflected in its prey species, composed largely of dragonflies and termites.

 

The Aplomado falcon once lived across grasslands in southern New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. By the mid-20th century, it had essentially disappeared from the United States because of habitat loss and shrub encroachment into grasslands, pesticide impacts, shooting and persecution, and broader ecological changes.The last known nesting pair in New Mexico was documented near Deming, New Mexico in 1952.

In the 1970s and 1980s, conservationists began captive breeding programs using birds from remnant populations in Mexico. The species was officially listed as endangered in the United States in 1986. In 2005–2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved a plan to reintroduce captive-raised falcons into southern New Mexico and Arizona. The first New Mexico releases began in 2006, especially on the privately owned Armendaris Ranch in the Chihuahuan Desert grasslands. Young captive-bred falcons were placed in elevated “hack towers,” where they were fed and protected while learning to fly.

A falcon is considered to be "successfully released" from a breeding program when it is no longer dependent on food provided at the hack site. The process generally takes from three to six weeks, but can be extended to ensure a successful reintroduction, and the birds are monitored daily. If a bird does not attain independence, it may be returned to the hacking site.

Despite early optimism, the New Mexico population never became self-sustaining. A 2013 assessment concluded that the Chihuahuan Desert sites in New Mexico and west Texas were not supporting stable populations.

Fast forward to 2026, and my recent three month sojourn in Brasilia the capital of Brazil, where my Aplomado tale was punctuated. Early one morning, I almost choked on my cup of cafezinho when I looked out across and spotted an Aplomado pair perched on the antenna on the adjacent building. A week later they reappeared, on the same building, on the same antenna, across from the Parque Olhos D'Agua, a relatively small 28 hectare preserve situated in the middle of urban Brasilia. 

In contrast to New Mexico in the USA, Aplomado are well represented in Brazil, where they have an endless food supply chain of termites, dragonflies and other flying insects. Records show that a pair of Aplomado have been identified there on the same antenna repeatedly over the last ten years.

© Sam Zhang

Data and support from: Dr. Reginaldo Constantino, Department of Zoology, University of Brasilia.

Many thanks! 

I will be back in Brazil soon to continue the illustrated Aplomado story!

Istanbul, the Bosphorus, and Çamlica Hill 40 years on

At the geographical junction of the continents of Europe and Asia, tens of thousands of raptors and storks migrate from the northern to the southern hemisphere over the Bosphorus Strait in September each year. 

The first time I witnessed this spectacle was in 1985. The population of Istanbul was 5.5 million at the time. I stayed on the European side of the Bosphorus and took the ferry to Üsküdar. I then walked across open fields, stopping to buy fruit from farmers, as I made my way up to the top of Çamlica Hill, the highest point of elevation along the Bosphorus at 268 meters/879 feet. 

In the 40 years since, things have changed dramatically. The current population is around 16 million and Üsküdar's fields are now home to many of the city's residents and the majestic Çamlica Mosque, the largest in Turkey at the crest of Çamlica Hill. Completed in 2019, it can accommodate approximately 63,000 worshippers. Sharing the hill is Çamlica Tower (telecommunication), the tallest structure in Turkey at 369 meters/1,211 feet. 

This time I stayed on the Asian side of Istanbul, and after getting over the shock of progress, I soon settled in to my daily routine of making my way through the suburbs up to Çamlica buying fruit from local open air markets along the journey.

The onset of Autumn migration proved quite slow this year, as the ambient temperatures in Europe and Russia were high. The typical start of raptor movement in early September was delayed, but as the mercury dropped mid-month the phenomenon of migration began. Observation from Çamlica Hill on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Strait is still a unique location to watch this spectacle. There are so many choices at varying altitudes making birding quite an active exercise - occasionally even a pain in the neck - and simply knowing where to look an enjoyable challenge!

Large birds, with low wing loading values, are heavy. They need the warm air thermals that develop over land masses warmed by the sun to gain the altitude needed to soar over intercontinental land mass gaps of water. Water forms a physical barrier to aerial migration for heavier birds because it does not produce warm air thermals. 

Altitude can be achieved by smaller birds, known as active fliers, because they depend less on air currents to give them the vital lift to reach Africa and Asia. By simply flying directly south and flapping - with many flying at night and adjusting altitude and temperature - they prevent over heating and make the self-powered flight over intercontinental bodies of water.

Looking for vital aid in the form of thermals to lift them over, heavier species funnel down along the western side of the Black Sea's shore following the land mass between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Hundreds of Lesser Spotted Eagles appeared over the city

As did hundreds of Levant Sparrow-hawk - with many unexpected jewels and surprises amongst them:

Red-footed Falcon
Eleonoras Falcon
Short-toed Eagle

Sparrowhawk

Alpine Swift

Id confirmed by reviewing pictures taken.  Some species emerging only later through photo analysis!

South Downs National Park 

Sussex UK

Peregrine breeding grounds

The chalk cliffs at Birling Gap provide excellent breeding cliffs for Peregrine Falcon. The high sheer vertical faces, with shallow ledges, also provide protected nest places for Raven to built. These are then commandeered by the falcons, providing a perfect aerie, secure from mammalian predators

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon take Black-headed Gull dropped by adult

 Young need to be educated by the adults, meaning taught to catch prey. To catch a rapidly flying birds is a challenge for an inexperience juvenile. Initially small young are presented with small pieces of meat at the nest. Later as the young develop they are encouraged to pursue the adults taking food from them in flight.Towards the end of the training period juveniles are made to retrieve prey items released by the adult Peregrine. 

The images above are of young recapturing a Black-headed Gull first the young are shown the food but not allowed to take it. 

Only after a chase, the parent bird flew away apparently gone flown away with the food.Then suddenly gull was released from high above them. The prey (squeezed by powerful clawed talons) dead at this point and will spiral down, young attack trying catch it as it descends. often missing it completely. If they do miss the falcon will dive after it in a close - winged stoop recapturing it.  - A very impressive manoeuvre - the action is repeated.

 Towards the end of their first year (typically November) the young will start to pursue birds independently. 

Peregrine Falcon

The short grass and thick shrub with gorse provides an attractive habitat for heath dwelling birds and produce healthy populations of Whitethroat, Linnet and Skylark. Wild flowers such as the cowslip thrive on the downs amongst the grass on the sheep pasture.

Cowslip

The northern ridge of the English Channel forms the coastline of southern England. Migrating birds moving North in spring bring concentrations of night time migrants crossing the channel. They then stop, rest and refuel after their long journeys - the final stage of which is over water. The first landing opportunity is the Sussex coast. 

Early morning at this time of the year the cliff top pastures can be covered with feeding birds and birders. Occasionally, unexpected species like the Hoopoe can be observed amongst them.

Wild Poppy

Hoopoe 

Back in the 18th century bird catchers would exploit this once per year food source opportunity and span their nets to catch them and sell them at market. Biologists visiting these food stalls became increasingly aware of the diversity of species. Many were unusual or not breeding birds of the United Kingdom. Early ornithologists pursued the phenomenon, to discover that some had in fact overshot there breeding range, during their nocturnal migration.

Many enthusiasts were keen to collect data recording the numbers and species and this led to the modern pastime of birdwatching. An entire industry has developed around birding activities aided with identification books and equipment, software applications and smartphones. In addition, huge global databases have been established to support the science. With so many reporting systems from enthusiasts and biologists this has resulted in improved bird protection.

Rock Pipit

Sheep pastures with short grasses provide habitat for ground dwelling animals and birds, but the Rock Pipit will always be found on the seashore. Rock pipit or - Strandpieper as our cousins in Germany across the channel would say - 

Stonechat

Meadow Pipit

Whitethroat

Kestrel hoving

Wood Mouse 

An abundance of birds on the cliffs and top pastures, provide ample prey for raptors like the Peregrine. Kestrel are also well represented taking mammals (wood mouse) and small birds. Seen below hovering in characteristic anchor position searching the ground for mice.

The European Skylark are in decline in most of Continental Europe. Here in the Park they

are well represented.

Skylark

Hoopoe

       SDNP - where spring migration occasionally brings Hoopoe.

The South Downs National Park England is always a beautiful place to be with Peregrine Falcon breeding on the chalk cliffs in spring, and Skylark singing in the summer. In autumn the wild poppies bloom with the deep throaty caw of Raven drifting out over the cliff tops.

Brazil bird mystery

A Narrow-billed Woodcreeper 

The Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, a resident of Brazil's Pantanal region, has a distinct head pattern separating it from other woodcreepers. Although there are an additional eight subspecies, all on the South American continent, this Brazilian specie is a resident of cerrados.

Cerrados are the most biodiverse tropical savannas in the world, containing 5% of all plants and animals, only found in central Brazil and parts of Paraguay. Only the Amazon rainforest, surpasses the cerrados as home to 10% of the world's plants and animals. Despite the nation's agricultural prowess in producing tons of soya, there is a concerted effort led by Brazilian conservationists to preserve these unique habitats holding massive genetic reserves. 

The Narrow-billed Woodcreeper is one of South America's endemic bird species like the others of Genus Lepidocolaptes. This genus forage vertically, climbing up tree trunks, gleaning insects and small vertebrates from their bark. Although this woodcreeper is known to frequent areas of human development where it has be observed feeding on moths around street lights in the early hours, the individuals below were photographed in the remote region of Lago de Serra da Mesa, a location reached after many hours off-road at the eastern corner of Brazil's largest lake. 

Gnatcatchers

The family Polioptilidae or gnatcatchers is comprised of three genera with 21 species, the largest genus being Polioptila with 17 similar species.

Polioptila are represented in Brazil by the Masked Gnatcatcher, a delightful and tiny little bird constantly on the move, challenging to photograph, but so much more rewarding when you do! My experiences chasing its cousin on the North American continent the Black-tailed Gnatcatcher proved to be essential training. Both species weigh only 5 grams and must constantly glean - sometimes hover gleaning the abundance of tiny insect food found in the tropics.      

 

Male Masked Gnatcatcher

  Female Masked Gnatcatcher (note facial markings)

Other Brazilian ultralights

There are many birds, let's call them ultralights (drawing on a term from aviation for convenience), in the tropics. Both of these tiny birds, weighing only 5-6 grams, have evolved to exploit the abundance of food in a warm and wet environment. Insects sustain the Masked Gnatcatcher while nectar and insects sustain hummingbirds.

Many flowers provide high octane nectar for these remarkable birds. Continuing with the aeronautic mechanical analogy, hummingbirds are unique, with a high revving motor, hearts beating at 50 to 80 times a second, and a rigid wing design except at the shoulder joint which allows the bird to move in all directions - including flying backwards as demonstrated by the Glittering-throated Emerald below.

The gorgeous Swallow-tailed Hummingbird is fast - very fast - and to make life difficult for the photographer does not frequent a particular flower as a food source, but rather feeds largely on flying insects high in the canopy. After chasing the elusive hummingbird for months, the best I could deliver are these two inferior photos.   

On my way home one morning while leaving Olhos D'agua Park in Brasilia through the dense jungle area, this little fellow, a Glittering-throated Emerald, performed his backward flying act right in front of me while collecting nest material.

Glittering-throated Emerald

Next post from my Brazil adventure

Brazil and the Tropics

Escaping the European energy crisis in paradise

A unique opportunity to escape to south of the equator and exchange a UK Winter for summertime in Brazil became just too good to resist. Back in 2012, our Brazilian colleagues came to Hove to study English staying with us for a couple of months. 

Blue and Green Macaw

Now cashing in on a decade old rain check, we were heading down to the Southern Hemisphere and a tropical paradise. In the Tropic of Capricorn the jungle is alive, the weather is warm and the daily heavy tropical cloud bursts only last a few minutes.

Tufted Capuchin Monkey

Parque Ecologico Olhos D'agua Brasilia 

Brasilia has many natural parks, and near to my abode in the ASA Norte or North Wing, is the gorgeous Olhos D'agua Brasilia ecological area which is about the size of Central Park. 

A ten minute walk away, made for an easy and enjoyable early morning start. Sunrise was beautiful and after 30 minutes the angle of the sun was just perfect for photography.

Elsewhere Brazil's capital city is surrounded by a large expanse of cerrado and tropical savannah which has been preserved in its natural state and designated Parque Nacional de Brasilia. Except for one side where the entrance is, this has been made into a water park, with sports education centers very popular with school children, the vast area of 42,000 ha. (163 square miles) has been skillfully left to remain pure cerrado. 

Established by Presidential Decree in 1961 as part of the original design of the city, Brasilia National Park is the largest park in an urban area in the world. A unique wilderness, it continues to provide habitat and refuge for the threatened Mane Wolf, Cougar,Tapir, Giant Anteater, Jaguar and over 200 bird species.

Excursions from my Brasilia base made into the interior of the country brought many additional interesting photographic opportunities. The wetland region of Brazil known as the Pantanal proved exceptional with many exotic birds and animals. Driving up over rough terrain (only negotiable with a 4 wheel drive vehicle) to Lago de Serra da Mesa became a real adventure where we lived on a diet of fish caught directly from the lake in a small boat.

On one occasion a Piranha, responsible for artfully eating the bait from our hooks all day was finally caught. The fish became my supper, served to me ceremoniously garnished with spices, an honor reserved for the only fisherman that did not catch a single fish.

 

Eternal thanks to our Brazilian hosts and capable companions Nilton and Claudia Campos Aaruna. What great sports they proved to be!

Red and Green Macaw

Rufous-Tailed Jacama

Toco Toucan

African Tulip tree an invasive species

Returning home
Equipped with a wealth of discoveries and photographs and a glowing sense of achievement, we fly north across the equator to the Northern Hemisphere and home to England. There is much more bird material to share and publish.

Heliconius erato, or red postmaan

   

    Stay tuned for future posts featuring: 

    Hummingbirds 

    South American Raptors 

    And what is this?