If there is a place on Earth that is better for viewing raptors than the northwestern prairies, I haven't visited it. Sixteen species are found in Grasslands alone Added to those, eight species of owl, some smaller predatory birds, five species of snake, and twelve species of carnivorous mammal all need to eat.

Coyote feeding on deer carcass



Only a vast banquet of prey can sustain populations of so many predators. They say, as I mentioned in my previous post, that 200 million prairie dogs were once found in the grasslands. I've never met anyone brave enough to estimate the populations of mice or meadow voles Those swathes of grass are perfect rodent real estate, it seems



And so, every few miles down the rural roads, a bird of prey is to be found



Some are built for strength, such as red-tailed hawks...





...and others for speed. This is a prairie falcon, a close relative of the peregrine.



In Britain, we have one species of buteo: the common buzzard. In the prairies, there are so many species, usually coming in multiple colour variations, that working out what you're looking at is incredibly difficult! Thanks to some local tips on ID, I now know that this is a rough-legged hawk.



As quite probably is this, albeit in a melanistic (dark) morph.



Northern harriers, at least, are easy to identify thanks to their large white rump patch and habit of skimming low over the meadows.



And lest it be thought that all prairie raptors are photo-cooperative this is a very long distance shot of the large but rare ferruginous hawk, which is nationally listed as threatened in Canada.



But if the hawks are analogous to the coyote of the land, then the wolf's natural airborne equivalent must be...a golden eagle!



These awesome birds with their two metre wingspan soar over the buttes and coulees of the prairie landscape, hunting medium-sized prey such as rabbits, and being audaciously pestered by smaller raptors. I wouldn't like to say what the mobber is here



Eagle days are good days