It also helped that I was on the second story deck of my home. That put me within twenty feet of them when they landed.
I looked up the the new top of a black spruce tree and there they were--three young merlins just out of the nest and trying out their new found flying ability. I say "new top" because wind and heavy snow last winter broke off about ten feet of this tree. The new top has become a favored landing spot for birds of all species because a nice bare branch offers a non-prickly spot for bird feet to perch.
These merlins arrived in full voice. I recall a few years back, newly-fledged merlins announcing their presence with their frantic and shrill ki-ki-ki cries. This lasted a few days, during which I am sure the young falcons went hungry as I witnessed one chasing a smaller bird up my driveway, in full vocal pursuit. Soon they hunted silently and I suspect more gainfully.
These youngsters will learn in time.
They stayed long enough for me to go downstairs and gather three cameras, even going outside to get one from a vehicle. I walked directly under their tree to do this.
One slipped silently away; two remained.
A second took wing, sans voice.
And then there was one, perched in the tree top like a miniature peregrine falcon.
The third lingered, aware of everything in its domain. Then it, too, left far more quietly than it had arrived.
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