By Mitchell Clarke
Seeing one of the fastest and most notorious birds of prey in the wild is one thing, but capturing it on camera is another.
Star News photographer Gary Sissons, an avid wildlife photographer and bird lover, was recently trawling through the Cardinia Aqueduct Trail in Pakenham when he stumbled across the mighty Peregrine falcon feeding its young.
Mr Sissons said it was surreal to see the bird up close and personal.
According to Bird Life Australia, the powerfully built raptors are found across Australia, but they’re not actually “common anywhere”.
“Seeing the Peregrine falcons is always great for me as they are a stunning raptor and the fastest bird in the world but seeing them feeding their young is extra special,” Mr Sissons explained.
The magical moment was captured with a long lens to ensure the seasoned photographer was able to capture the feeding from a distance, without disturbing the birds.
“Nobody should disturb wildlife … just observe, enjoy the moment and leave,” he said.
Since his remarkable photos were taken, the young have fledged and are now flying in the area. The parents will teach them the art of catching prey, and soon enough, the young will leave the area and move on to their own domain.
Mr Sissons said the Aqueduct Trail was a great place to get out and explore nature.
“It’s worth packing a set of binoculars or a camera as you don’t know what to expect. I love packing my long telephoto lens along with my DSLR camera and walking this trail, the amount of birdlife is exceptional,” he added.
