How can i identify soaring birds of pray (NI)?
Identifying birds of prey has undergone a transformation. The old ‘field mark’ system has been supplemented with a more behavioral approach. Our ancestors who stayed close to the land and its rhythms could tell species apart at distances. The used both known field marks and behavior to identify an animal. We are going back to our beginnings. The field mark system was pioneered in book form by Roger Tory Peterson. His field guides focused on color, plumage, marking and other easily seen details. This is called the ‘field mark’ approach. This works best when you have a clear and close look at an animal. But, if the birds is flying a mile overhead, then the field mark system doesn’t work as well. This is where the behavioral approach comes in handy. Instead of looking for plumage details or eye color, more emphasis is placed on how a bird behaves. This behavior approach looks at a number of factors. •how a bird appear to fly •the rhythm of the flaps and glides while flying •asking does it
