I get excited by finding dead animals on the land. There is so much we can learn by looking at these animals when they are in front of us. We can really examine their physical characteristics which isn't always that easy when the animals are alive, going about their own business, and generally trying to avoid interactions with humans.
When examining a dead bird there is a lot we can observe, such as their feathers, their bills, talons, bones the body has been opened by predators or by decomposition. We can move some of the limbs to better understand articulations, weight and possible range of motion. But sometimes it is difficult for us to know which animals we are finding out in the field. That's were Ed Drewitt helps.
For Episode 142 I get to talk to Ed Drewitt, naturalist, Peregrine Falcon researcher, and author of Raptor Prey Remains : A guide to identifying what’s been eaten by a bird of prey. On the show we discuss what is happening in England (where Ed is located), what the birds are up to this time of year, and also who is migrating and who is staying put. We talk about raptor ecology on the broad sense and also get focus on Peregrines. He also shares about his own efforts, from a school boy to working on his PhD 30 years later, all the while investigating feathers, skulls, and other prey remains.
It was a nice and relaxed interview, with Ed sharing so much of what he has learned through his years of observation and study, and how his book can help those who are getting started in the world of tracking birds of prey by learning to correctly identify that which they prey upon.