This photo shows Astrid on the steeple perch with a nice full crop!
A crop is an expandable pouch where a falcon – or other raptor – can store food. By doing this they slowly allow food into their stomach, thereby allowing for better digestion. No overstuffed Thanksgiving feeling for these birds!
They may also gulp air into the crop – we have seen both Astrid and Ares have ridiculously full crops. We believe when they are that full that they have gulped in some air as well.
