ML40175671

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Sex

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Observation details

After scouting the site and its reported roadside deer carcass, after 10pm the previous night, from before first light I attempted to relocate a first documented for Georgia Crested Caracara... as, well, maybe the early bird(er) will get the caracara showing fidelity to a deer carcass before the traffic gets too crazy. The bird was first found and photographed on the ground on the south side of the highway directly across from the deer carcass in front of the Tiberon on the Etowah under-construction subdivision after 4pm the previous afternoon by Chris Geller: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32530060 Jim Flynn joined me before 7:30am and we were set up about 350 feet to the east of the deer carcass on the north side of Hwy 369 just west of Hightower Circle. We didn't know it but Chris Geller had arrived and parked inside the subdivision entrance at about 7:30am and was watching the spot as well. Unbeknownst right away to anyone this morning the caracara was roosting right on the edge of the pine trees directly across Hwy 369 from the entrance to the Tiberon on the Etowah under-construction subdivision and the deer carcass. Chris was able to get some great footage of the bird then and there: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32560437 As I was watching intently at 7:45-46am, after being harassed by crows, who were coming to the carcass, The Caracara dramatically exploded in flight out from the edge of the pines, from maybe less than 10 feet above the ground, and from directly across Hwy 369 from the subdivision entrance. It flew below treetop level at first to the northeast and to within about 175 feet (less than 60 yards) of where Jim and I were standing. I found that I still had some breath left and shouted: There It Is! There It Is! as it crossed Hwy 369. Jim thought I was kidding at first but he instantly got on the bird and was able to get a few DSLR photos as the caracara quickly passed right by us in low-level flight. The bird then continued out about 500 yards and eventually settled out of sight behind the trees. Jim stayed up on the road and Chris and I went to search the subdivision for the bird where I relocated it just before 8:30am on a spindly snag pretty far out to the northeast from the back of the subdivision. I messaged Jim right away and he came right over, and all three of us were able to get scope video and/or stills! Awesomely Stunning Georgia Bird and coldest Crested Caracara I've ever seen as it was below freezing early this morning! Map marker is where the bird was relocated just before 8:30am from inside the subdivision. Handheld phonescoped video still frames of the bird from the just before 8:30am sighting:

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