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Post By: Raudaskrida

Gyrfalcon Polulation and Reproduction in Relation to Rock Ptarmigan Numbers in Iceland

In courtesy of Dr. Olafur K Nielsen and The Peregrine Fund Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Urriðaholtsstræti 6 –8, P.O. Box 125, 212 Garðabær, Iceland. E-mail: okn@ni.is I have studied the population ecology of the Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) since 1981 on a 5,300-km2 study area in northeast Iceland harbouring 83 traditional Gyrfalcon territories. The main […]

The Impact of Food Availability on Gyrfalcon (Falco Rusticolus) Diet and Timing of Breeding

From the book Birds of Prey, in courtesy of Dr. Olafur K Nielsen and Des Thompson Introduction The gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus is a big and a powerful falcon of arctic and boreal alpine areas. It has long, broad, tapered wings and long tail, and is capable of making very fast and prolonged aerobic flights catching […]

Oedipus Rex – The extraordinary love life of the Gyr Falcon

From the Magazine Fuglar, published by BirdLife Iceland, in courtesy of BirdLife Iceland and Tómas G. Gunnarsson Icelandic Gyr Falcons are grey but there is great individual variation. Some Gyr Falcons are pale, others dark. The palest birds were known as “silver” in the days when they were captured for export and categorized and priced […]

Colour-ringed Gyr Falcons

From the Magazine Fuglar, published by BirdLife Iceland, in courtesy of BirdLife Iceland and Ólafur Karl Nielsen The main prey of the Gyr Falcon (Falco rusticolus) in Iceland is the Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). The size of the Icelandic Rock Ptarmigan population is highly variable and changes follow a rather regular pattern. It rises and […]