Nature in Motion | The Impressive Peregrine

FALCON FACTS

The Impressive Peregrine

BY BETTY HARTIG

Whoosh! That is the sound of a peregrine falcon zipping by. The bird’s rapid flight can buzz overhead, causing a passerby to flinch with uncertainty. Quite startling! The raptor is speedy with crafty aerodynamic movements. It is easy to understand how the F-16 Fighter plane bears the name “Fighting Falcon.” When a peregrine falcon stoops, its speed increases tremendously. The peregrine’s diving speed can reach more than 186 miles per hour, which makes it not only the fastest bird but the fastest animal on earth.

The falcon is about the size of a crow, predominately dark bluegray in color, with black above and white below its head. The bird is easily identified by the distinctive thick black sideburns. In flight, an adult’s feathers appear checkered with white and black sides and underwings. As with most raptors, the female falcon is larger than the male. The avian prefers to nest on tall coastal cliffs or buildings. No actual nest is built; eggs are laid in simple scrapes or small depressions made in the soil or gravel of a cliff’s edge. During nesting, peregrines are extremely territorial. They will chase away anything that comes close to their family. The female stays with the chicks, referred to as eyas, at first, while the male dutifully brings food for her and the young. Usually, eyas take their first flight at about six weeks. After their first flight, they are called fledglings. Unfortunately, the mortality rate for young falcons is about 60 percent. The average lifespan is 12-15 years old.

Peregrine falcons can be spotted regularly on the sea stack between the north- and south-bound lanes of Highway 101 in Pismo Beach as well as Morro Rock in Morro Bay. However, they can be seen elsewhere along the Central Coast, including Avila Beach. Their perching preference is a high vantage point that allows them to view, aim, and snatch at targets with ease and accuracy. Peregrine falcons have been known to use ships at sea as a high post to hunt for seabirds. Like all animals in life, sustenance is required to survive. Medium-sized birds are their meals. Shore birds are a top menu item, along with ducks, pigeons, and occasionally larger game such as geese, all of these are plentiful along the coast, especially in creek estuaries like the one along the Bob Jones Pathway. Peregrines are designed to make swift aerial assaults. Grasping their prey in flight with no problem. Keen eyesight, smooth feathers, and pointed wing tips allow the falcon to have superior aero efficiency. The falcon can see at least one mile in distance and keep track of three moving objects at the same time. They are magnificent to watch while in flight, thermals and updrafts are masterfully utilized to gain height and ultimately take their target in mid-air. Teamed with the falcon’s expert hunting skill is a sharp hooked beak used for tearing food. The upper beak has a smartly formed notch for severing the spinal cord of the victim. Powerful talons are used not only to capture other birds but as brakes. The bird positions its yellow talons downward to increase drag and reduce speed to 10-20 miles per hour.

In ancient times falcons were considered the birds of royalty. These raptors of high distinction were at risk of becoming extinct in the United States during the 20th century due to pesticides, specifically DDT, which made its way into the food chain and affected the female peregrine’s ability to lay healthy eggs. The banning of DDT in the 1970s increased the peregrine population. The bird’s successful recovery enabled their elimination from the endangered species list in 1999. Learning about issues that affect wildlife and people is critical to our environment. Impressive birds, such as the peregrine falcon now exist because of changes that were made in the use of chemicals. Monitoring how humans use land, and evaluating what is put into the earth, should always be considered as we strive to protect habitat. Conserving birds is in our hands. Let us work together to carefully preserve all wildlife. 