Today at 2 pm I was sitting at my desk when I caught view of a raptor flying at me from the north of the Best Buy HQ in Richfield, Hennepin County, along 76th street heading west towards Penn Ave. It was clearly a large Falcon, so I stood and told some of my coworkers "check out this bird", thinking it was a Peregrine, which I have seen 3 times in the past year here. It was at my eye level 4 stories above the street and about 40 feet away at its closest point. I couldn't resist playing Frank Nicoletti, as I stood and proclaimed in my outside voice "Prairie Falcon" as it passed by the window and on to the west, parallel to 76th Avenue. The light brownish tan dorsal color, streaked lighter breast and clearly contrasting dark wing liners were clearly seen in good light as it flew by. It was larger than the Rock Pigeons that cruise the area all the time, yet not as stocky. It had long tapered wings, its wing beats were not very fast, and reminded me of the Peregrines I have seen in level flight when not in hot pursuit, much like up at Hawk Ridge as they pass. 6 people watched it pass and remarked how cool it was. I had to get out the bird book for several to show what made it a Prairie. I told them it may be at the Airport or coming from over near Hiawatha. Any of these birds being seen this year? Time to look around, I guess. Pretty darn good yard bird for work, I'd say.=20
Mark Alt Brooklyn Center, MN [email protected] "Birds and their songs are important to me, they add to my enjoyment of life"=20
