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Falco
peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon
The American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is an endangered animal species. The beautiful bird has been a FE (Federal Endangered) species since June 2, 1970. The American peregrine falcon belongs to the Falconidae family of the Kingdom Animalia. The falcon feeds on bluejays, flickers, meadowlarks, pigeons, starlings, shorebirds, waterfowl, and other avian species. The peregrine usually hunts aloft and can dive at the impressive speed of 200 miles per hour to snatch its prey. The prey is either killed immediately by the falcon's extremely long talons or struck to the ground for the falcon to return and retrieve it. They may even fly in excess of 10 miles from their nest in search of prey. They generally stay in close proximity to open habitat areas such as waterways, fields, and wetlands to spot prey with less difficulty. In the eastern United States, the falcon usually nests on a cliff or series of cliffs, but they may nest in river cutbanks, trees, and tall manmade structures or buildings. The peregrines are located in every state and throughout the remainder of North American continent. Most peregrine falcons do not migrate, but some are reported to migrate from the mountains of South Carolina to the coast of South Carolina for the winters.
The peregrine falcon is a medium-sized raptor with a lengthy tail and long, pointed wings. An adult's coloration is slate gray; its wings, tail, and flanks are banded with black. The falcon has a black "mustache" on its face, and its throat is white. Its belly is white and reddish, with many spots and also banded with black. It has a yellowish beak and claws and black talons. During the 1940s there were estimated to be 350 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in the United States. As of 1990, even after nearly 1,200 had been bred in captivity and released, there were a total of only 187 pairs of falcons and 111 young. The peregrine falcons live between 20 and 25 years. The falcons reach sexual maturity at three years of age. They lay eggs during late March and April. They lay a clutch of three or four eggs, but occasionally six or seven. The incubation period is approximately 33 days and there is generally a two day interval between the hatching of each egg. The young stay in the nest for six or seven weeks and are dependent on their parents for many months. The fledglings are very vulnerable to predators. The peregrine falcons are threatened by chlorinated pesticides, especially DDT. The pesticides enter their systems when they eat contaminated prey. Adult fatalities have increased, but the main disturbance in the falcons by DDT is in the reproductive process. Their eggs become very thin and brittle, so reproductive success has declined drastically. Other factors that account for the disappearance of the falcons are shootings, natural predation, egg collecting, disease, falconers, nests disturbed by humans, and loss of habitat for human development. An in depth recovery plan was instated in 1979 and finished in 1987. The objective of the plan is to restore a successful, nesting, self-sustaining population of falcons in the eastern United States. There are several primary steps suggested to be followed to achieve the goal:
1) preserve and provide a nesting habitat
2) restore the peregrine falcon population by introducing captive-bred birds into the wild
3) preserve migration and wintering habitats
4) provide protection for the birds
In 1971 a captive-breeding program was initiated at Cornell University. As of 1990, nearly 1,200 falcons were released into 11 eastern states. The personnel heading the operation are currently focusing on nest protection and population monitoring. There have been few controversies surrounding the falcons themselves, but DDT has been outlawed along with the hunting of the birds. If the American peregrine falcon is not protected, it too will face extinction.
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