Peregine Falcon —Ross Feldner The Peregrine Falcon is the world’s fastest diving bird. Its power dive, called a "stoop," can reach speeds of 200-240 mph! This agile predatory raptor lives on every continent except Antarctica. It eats mostly other birds, consuming a wide variety of species. In North America 450 species have been documented as prey which typically includes shorebirds, ducks, pigeons and songbirds. They will also hunt bats and steal fish and rodents from other raptors. These falcons typically nest on high cliffs with the males selecting several possible locations and the female making the final decision. For the majority of the 20th century these magnificent birds were at risk of extinction due to the use of pesticides, specifically DDT. As the DDT made its way into the food chain, Peregrine Falcons, being top predators, absorbed large amounts of the chemical pesticide from eating fish and other birds. This caused the thinning of their egg shells, preventing offspring from developing. Following the work of Rachel Carson and others, DDT was banned in 1970. Peregrine Falcons rebounded in numbers and are no longer on the endangered species list! | |
