Field Guide/Birds/Falco peregrinus

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The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), sometimes formerly known in North America as Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 38-53 cm (15 to 21 inches) long. The English and scientific species names mean "wandering falcon", and refer to the fact that some populations are migratory. It has a wingspan of about 1 metre (40 inches). Males weigh 570-710 grams; the noticeably larger females weigh 910-1190 grams.

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on the planet in its hunting dive, the stoop, in which it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds in excess of 300 km/h (185mph) into either wing of its prey, so as not to harm itself on impact. Although not self-propelled speeds, due to the fact that the falcon gathers the momentum and controls its dive, capture (if any) and landing in its own right, technically there is no faster animal. The fastest speed recorded is 390 km/h (242.3mph). The fledglings practice the roll and the pumping of the wings before they master the actual stoop. =lkmvcbkvjnbjknkjnfghdjnjkfgnkjnbgnjkjcnxv,mngfjgbjdhsgdfsjnfkljsdvlklmsvkdlkfvgghklngkj

Threats

The Peregrine Falcon became endangered because of the overuse of pesticides, during the 1950s and 1960s. Pesticide build-up interfered with reproduction, thinning eggshells and severely restricting the ability of birds to reproduce. The DDT buildup in the falcon's fat tissues would result in less calcium in the eggshells, leading to flimsier, more fragile eggs. In several parts of the world, this species was wiped out by pesticides.

Peregrine eggs and chicks are often targeted by thieves and collectors, so the location of their nest should not be revealed, unless they are protected.

Recovery efforts

This Peregrine Falcon was found injured and survived in Olomouc Zoological Garden, the Czech Republic. One of activities of the zoological garden is a programme of helping injured birds of prey.

Wildlife services around the world organized Peregrine Falcon recovery teams to breed them in captivity.

The birds were fed through a chute, so they could not see the human trainers. Then, when they were old enough, the box was opened. This allowed the bird to test its wings. As the bird got stronger, the food was reduced because the bird could hunt its own food. This procedure is called hacking. To release a captive-bred falcon, the bird was placed in a special box at the top of a tower or cliff ledge.

Worldwide recovery efforts have been remarkably successful. In the United States, the banning of DDT eventually allowed released birds to breed successfully. There are now dozens of breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the northeastern USA and Canada.

Many have settled in large cities, including London Ontario and Derby, where they nest on cathedrals, skyscraper window ledges, and the towers of suspension bridges. About 18 pairs nested in New York City in 2005.^[1]

These structures typically closely resemble the natural cliff ledges that the species prefers for nesting locations. During daytime the falcons have been observed swooping down to catch common city birds such as pigeons and Common Starlings. In many cities, the Falcons have been credited with controlling the numbers of such birds, which have often become pests, without resort to more controversial methods such as poisoning or hunting.

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Successful efforts at saving endangered species like the Peregrine were recognized by a U.S. postal stamp.

In Virginia, state officials working with students from the Center for Conservation Biology of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg successfully established nesting boxes high atop the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge on the York River, the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge and Varina-Enon Bridge on the James River, and at other similar locations. Thirteen new chicks were hatched in this Virginia program during a recent year. Over 250 falcons have been released through the Virginia program.

In the 53-mile long New River Gorge of West Virginia, another program is underway to re-establish populations by transferring "bridge chicks" from Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey to special nesting boxes mounted on the high cliffs. [2]. Chicago also started its habitat protection programs with a special recognition of Peregrine Falcon by making it the official bird of the city.[3]

The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the U.S. Threatened and Endangered Species list on August 25, 1999. In 2003, some states began issuing limited numbers of falconry permits for Peregrines, due to the success of the recovery program.

In the UK, there has been a good recovery of populations since the crash of the 1960s. This has been greatly assisted by conservation and protection work led by the RSPB. Peregrines now breed in many mountainous and coastal areas, especially in the west and north. They are also using some city buildings for nesting, capitalizing on the urban pigeon populations for food

Trivia

The Mediterranean Peregrine Falcon, in this context known as the Maltese Falcon, was the annual rent required by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V when he donated the Island of Malta to the Knights Hospitaller in 1530.
The Peregrine Falcon appears on the left hand side of the Coat of arms of the Isle of Man. The Peregrine is used owing to the historical importance of the bird in the Isle of Man's. When Henry IV of England gave the Isle of Man to Sir John Stanley he made the condition that Sir John give two Peregrine Falcons to him, and furthermore to every future monarch of England on his or her Coronation Day. This tradition was carried out up to the Coronation of George IV in 1821.
The Peregrine Falcon has cones in its nostrils to help regulate breathing at high speed, and, once their use had been found, they were mimicked in fighter jets.
A Peregrine Falcon, Lucy, was filmed in the movie The Falcon and the Snowman.
In the series of children's novels, "Animorphs," the peregrine falcon is the favorite bird morph of Jake.
A Peregrine Falcon will be prominently featured on the Idaho quarter to be issued in 2007 as part of the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters program. [4]
Unlike Peregrine Falcons of the Northern Hemisphere, Australian Peregrine Falcons are non-migratory. Also, the breeding season of the Australian Peregrine Falcons lasts from July to November each year.

References

Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Tucker VA. Gliding flight: speed and acceleration of ideal falcons during diving and pull out. J. Exp. Biol. 201(Pt 3):403-14 (1998).

Peregrine Falcon webcams

United States

Utah Peregrine Falcon webcam - real time video of nesting Peregrine Falcons on the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City Utah.
Woodmen of the World Peregrine Falcon Webcam Webcam for the falcon nest at the Woodmen Tower in downtown Omaha, NE.
Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group
San Francisco Peregrine Falcon webcam - Peregrine Falcon webcam on 33rd floor of Pacific Gas and Electric Company building in San Francisco, a SCPBRG site
Pennsylvania Peregrine Falcon webcam - DEP Falcon Cam shows a nesting pair in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Ohio Peregrine Falcon webcam - Falcon Cam showing 16-year-old tiercel "Mercury" and his mate Snowball in Dayton Ohio
Kodak Birdcam Kodak Birdcam - Kodak Corporate website. Nesting site located at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY, USA. Five camera views, photo galleries, videos, educational materials for educators and teachers. Tracking falcons Mariah and her mates since 1998
WPC Peregrine Recovery Program Webcams for the falcon nests at the Gulf Tower and Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA.
Macomb County Peregrine webcam Webcams for the falcon nest at the Macomb County Building in Mount Clemens, MI.
Indianapolis Star Peregrine Webcam Webcams for the falcon nest at the Key Bank Building in downtown Indianapolis, IN.
Raptor Resource Project Eight falcon cams, an osprey cam, an owl cam, and an eagle cam. Also includes photo forum, video clips, educational materials, and links.
Boswell Energy Center Falconcam Webcam for the falcon nest at Minnesota Power's Boswell Energy Center near Cohasset, MN.

Canada

Peregrine Foundation live cams
Hamilton Nature Falcon Cam shows chicks in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Website also features galleries from previous years.

Australia

FrodoCam Live Peregrine Falcon webcam located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The webcam shows nesting pair, Frodo and his mate Frieda. The website is active all year round, and there is continuous live cam coverage (both day and night), during the breeding season. There are also current video footage and current photo galleries — plus photo galleries and video footage from previous years. There is also a "Frodocam Forum" page. The Australian breeding season lasts from July to November–December each year. The 2006 breeding season is now here, and Frieda laid three eggs. All three chicks have now left the nesting ledge, having successfully fledged.