Falcon Comeback.The American peregrine falcon may be nature's most audacious sky hunter. The bird dives faster than 320 kilometers (200 miles) per hour to strike flying prey with razor-sharp talons, swooping to grab its plunging meal in midair. But by 1970, the falcon's dazzling hunting skills were a rare sight--less than 100 birds remained in all of North America. Now, 30 years of scientific research and controlled breeding have saved the peregrine falcon from the brink of extinction. By the end of 1999, the elusive raptor raptor In general, any bird of prey, including owls. The raptors are sometimes restricted to eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures (birds of the order Falconiformes), all diurnal predators that “seize and carry off” (Latin raptare) their prey. (bird of prey bird of prey Any member of the order Falconiformes (eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures) or Strigiformes (owls). Falconiforms are also called raptors. They are active during the day, whereas owls are nocturnal. ) was removed from the official endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S. list. Today falcon numbers exceed 4,000. And some peregrines thrive in a most unusual habitat--cities! These urban birds nest on skyscrapers and bridges, structures similar to mountainside cliffs where peregrines normally reside. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , for example, with its large population of prey, like pigeons and sparrows, has become peregrine paradise. Thirty years ago, the falcon nearly became extinct due to harmful agricultural pesticides like DDT DDT or 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1,-trichloroethane, chlorinated hydrocarbon compound used as an insecticide. First introduced during the 1940s, it killed insects that spread disease and feed on crops. . Insects ingest DDT, then are fed on by small birds, which in turn are consumed by peregrines. Stricter environmental laws controlling pesticide use have sparked the peregrine's comeback. But the falcon's success is due mostly to the Peregrine Fund, a breeding project originated in 1970 by Tom Cade, a former professor of ornithology ornithology Branch of zoology dealing with the study of birds. Early writings on birds were largely anecdotal (including folklore) or practical (e.g., treatises on falconry and game-bird management). (bird science) at Cornell University. He borrowed pet falcons from falconers and successfully bred 20 birds within three years, releasing grown birds into the wild. Twenty-seven years later, almost 4,000 birds have been reintroduced into wild habitats. Go, falcons! |
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