Scientific name: Falcon Pereginus
Animal Status: The Peregrine Falcon is endangered and rare. Their drop in population was partially caused by pesticides.
Family: Bird (Falconiforms)
Habitat: The Peregrine Falcon makes it's nest and raises it's young on high cliffs in the natural environment, but the falcons have learned to adapt and now nest on skyscrapers and very tall bridges also.
Where are their habitats: The Peregrine Falcon could be found all around the world on all seven continents except Antarctica. But since their drop in population the falcon is rare in some areas.
Range of habitat: Two Peregrine Falcons range of territory is usually ten to twelve miles in diameter. These territory bubbles include hunting and nesting areas.
Describe your animal: The Peregrine Falcon is a small and usual animal. It's 18 to 20 inches long with a 45 inch wingspan. The female is most often larger then the male (which is called a tiercel) who often hunts smaller prey. The female is simply called a falcon. Their black gray and tan feathers contrast perfectly into their surroundings. Huge black eyes help to spot prey on cliffs and high in the air. These amazing eyes weigh an ounce and have eyelids to protect them from cold rushing winds in dives!
Number known to exist: In the U.S.A. about two thousand Peregrine falcon mates are surviving well. Their recent incline in population has caused them to thrive on other continents.
Average lifespan: Peregrine falcons live to be to be twenty years as a average life span.
Primary and secondary food: The Peregrine falcon eats any kind of meat from birds (primary) to rodents and rabbits (secondary).
Reproduction: This falcon like many hawks and eagles lays only several eggs, from three to seven. They mate and lay eggs every year after migrations.
Threatens of life: In 1947 the Peregrine falcon population crashed leaving almost no birds left. The cause, DDT dust and other pesticides that were "hailed" as a perfect weapon against insects that destroyed crops. By eating animals that ate the insects the falcon's eggs became fragile and unprotecting. The eyases inside died, leaving no life in the Peregrine's world. In the seventies worldwide alarms alerted every continent that the Peregrine were going extinct. A breeding program aimed at bringing the falcons back started. The mating pair, Lancelot and Guinevere. Their first eyase was named Prince Phillip. The Peregrine falcons are now living better than they used to.
Migration route: The Peregrine falcon's migration route is among other birds flying south for the winter. But some falcons that live in large cities sometimes don't migrate. Why? because there is a lot of food, pigeons and rodents. Warmth is another reason, open heat vents make great nests for a Peregrine falcon. But the falcons that do migrate in the U.S. fly to Florida or even Central America to avoid the cold.
Unusual facts: There are few unusual facts about the Peregrine falcon, like when the eyease are fed their stomachs bulge and they sit with their legs out in front of them. When they are born they develop a fear of heights to keep them from falling off the edge of the nest. The chicks learn to fly when the parents place food at the edge of the nest so the eyase have to get the food. Also the Peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world. When diving this bird can cock a amazing 200 miles an hour. With their small build and light bones they were made to do it.
Stories, songs, or poems: The falcon has been honored and used for centuries. The ancient Egyptians used the falcon and hawk as symbols. Horus, the god of sun, is half man half falcon. Later in the middle ages hunters used these birds to hunt other flying creatures. Now people use Peregrine for falconry and big sport events.
Protecting this animal: Special organizations in the 1950's-70's have helped to bring these creatures back from near extinction. They brought the Peregrine falcon back which was a huge world success. Now the Peregrine falcon is surveying in the world.