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Goshawk of the gaps

Dense conifer forests are the classic hunting environment of the goshawk. But how can such big, powerful birds of prey belt through these woodlands and catch prey? Simon King sets up some specialist camera equipment to illuminate the the goshawk's technique. A tame goshawk has been trained to fly through a small gap in some camouflage netting strung between the trees and an ultra-slow motion camera is set up to film the spot. Gelert the goshawk's handler, Paul, sets the goshawk off and like a bullet it shoots right through the gap. The high speed action is slowed down by the camera so that the bird's extraordinary ability to fold up at high speed and manoeuvre through the tiny gap becomes evident.

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3 minutes

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