by Carla Caruso

Many find them fascinating—raptors, or birds of prey.

The carnivorous birds often have hooked beaks and sharp talons and actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates. Raptor species include hawks, eagles, owls, and vultures.

Among those captivated by the species is Adelaide hobbyist photographer Fran Mussared. She has been on “a raptor hunt” in your Park Lands for the past few months.

Yes, such birds don’t just wheel around craggy coastlines or hover by Outback highways, awaiting roadkill; they’re also found in urban areas (if you’re quick enough to spot them).

After Fran photographed a raptor at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11) one time, it became an obsession for her each visit.

“I have seen and documented four different species in the Garden—the nankeen kestrel, Australian hobby, peregrine falcon, and the goshawk.

“The Australian hobby, or little falcon [pictured above], is often mistaken for a small peregrine falcon.

“It can catch its prey in the air and sometimes eat it while in-flight or, as in my photos, carry it to a high perch to eat it.

“At the Victoria Park wetlands [Pakapakanthi / Park 16], I’ve also seen two nankeen kestrels.

“[Such birds] are vital to Adelaide because they’re a sign of a healthy ecosystem.”

Earlier this year, we reposted one of Fran’s images on social media, showing an Australian hobby feeding on a noisy miner (below).

While some followers were in awe of the pic, with comments ranging from “brilliant bird to watch hunting” to “eat more noisy miners please”, others weren’t so happy.

As one APA follower wrote online: “I’ll never understand why people feel the need to post pictures of poor, vulnerable songbirds being eaten by predators … this photo is so unnecessary.”

(Many, however, regard noisy miners as a nuisance because they’re territorial and often drive smaller birds away. The species is also thriving.)

It’s true, though, that viewing these types of images isn’t for everyone—like watching the circle of life in action on nature documentaries. Still, raptors are vital for our city.

According to government organisation Green Adelaide, the birds “feed on pests like rats and pigeons” and boost biodiversity.

Its site says: “There are 27 species of raptors across South Australia, with 17 found in metropolitan Adelaide (some are seen only occasionally).

“Peregrine falcons and Australian hobbies live in the city centre, and collared sparrowhawks and brown goshawks are often seen patrolling the suburbs.

“Protecting raptor habitat and raising public awareness of these birds is important to secure their populations in urban areas and promote urban biodiversity.”

During 2021 and 2022, Green Adelaide ran a re-wilding project to raise awareness of the birds and enhance their habitat, including monitoring breeding sites and carrying out nest site assessments.

Keen to learn more about the species? Here’s some information on the various raptors gracing our city, thanks to Green Adelaide:

Australian hobby: Also known as the ‘little falcon’, this fast and skilled acrobat often engages in high-speed chases in pursuit of its prey.

Peregrine falcon: This large, powerful bird is, in fact, the fastest animal on the planet! They have been recorded diving at their prey at more than 300km an hour.

Brown goshawk: This medium-sized raptor can be identified by their frowning appearance, and their favourite way to hunt is by surprising their prey.

Australian kestrel: Although they are Australia’s smallest raptors, they are fierce and clever hunters and can see things invisible to the human eye.

Find out about other bird species, within your Park Lands, in our series: What Bird Is That?.