Raptors or Birds of Prey - Photos by Bob Kelly

Birds of this category include species such as: hawks, eagles, buzzards, vultures, osprey, owls, and falcons. The photos which follow are of two phases of the Bald Eagle, and a falcon called the American Kestrel.

It takes 4-5 years for a Bald Eagle to get its characteristic white head and tail, and until then they are classified as a juvenile, even though they may be the same size or appear larger than an adult. The juveniles have a mottled appearance of brown, black, and white, in various patterns, and their beaks and talons are black instead of golden orange as in the case with the adult species. The Bald Eagles prefer to eat fish, rodents, or small animals, or dine on carcasses of dead animals. In Ames, the river near where these Bald Eagles hang out is frozen over, so on this day they were out in a corn field, eating what they could find....perhaps mice or rabbits.

The American Kestrel is a beautiful little raptor bird about 9-12 inches long, with a wing span of 20-24 inches, and a weights of 3-4 ounces. It is one of the most colorful members of the raptor family, and has the ability to hover into the wind while keeping its eye on the prey below and then swooping down for the kill. Their prey is usually small rodents, lizards, or large insects. They often perch on poles or wires, watching for their next meal.