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Jul 14, 2023·edited Jul 14, 2023Liked by Jack Mirkinson, Caitlin Schneider

Saw two of these at The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey outside Boise, ID. and they are so damn cool that my wife and I immediately donated to "sponsor" one named Penny. The fact they are so deadly but most people don't even know they exist is the most "serial-killer" thing about them and that just ups their cool factor.

Side note: The Birds of Prey Center in Boise ruled and I absolutely recommend it to anyone moving through that area. With a focus on raptors we were able to see killer birds of all kinds, like the Harpy Eagle and the super endangered California Condor. This specific location is part of the effort to support, raise and release condors back into the wild so if you love birds of Prey please visit and donate. Bonus: Their shirts kick ass so you can look sweet while supporting birds!

https://shop.peregrinefund.org/collections/online-apparel/products/bird-collage-shirt

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Jul 14, 2023Liked by Jack Mirkinson, Caitlin Schneider

I literally pumped my fist when I saw the subject line in my inbox, kestrels are so good!!!

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Jul 16, 2023Liked by Jack Mirkinson

LOL at Britannica saying people call kestrels "windhovers" for how they hang in the air pumping their wings to hold position, leaving out their more accurate and evocative name: "windfuckers."

Gorgeous little guys, and one of the birds that's equally thrilling and possible to see around NYC and out in the country.

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Love a good tiny falcon! I have many, many bird-themed stickers and one of my favorites is this kestrel/They Live crossover from an artist named Emma Regnier [https://www.instagram.com/falcofous/]:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1226606316/kickass-kestrel-3-american-kestrel-vinyl?click_key=72c293d6a3282e9e0dd6a5af4f3a70309c7a896c%3A1226606316&click_sum=a14f308b&ref=shop_home_active_6&frs=1&crt=1

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Speaking of bird themed stickers (and other things), I think readers of this blog would appreciate this store too:

https://weneedtogooutside.com/collections/products

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you can't fool me. that picture of "a kestrel on the hunt" is clearly a picture of a missile in flight

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One time when I was in Montana, I found a mummified kestrel had flown into my cabin over the winter and died under my bed. It was really cool.

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