![]() ![]() ![]() Peregrines often reuse not only the same cliffs, but also the same individual ledge. It is not uncommon for a site to be occupied for decades and, sometimes, for centuries. Successful breeders rarely change nest sites, and preferred nest locations are passed down from generation to generation. Peregrine Falcons avoid nesting near potential predators such as Golden Eagles and Great-Horned Owls. Peregrines prefer to nest on tall cliffs, and nest success increases with the height and protective nature of the nest site. ![]() A nest site must afford protection from the weather and potential predators, and it must be in or near areas with an adequate prey base. Peregrines nest in a variety of cliff types including overlooking rivers and lakes, coastal areas, and mountain valleys. The species prefers to nest on cliffs, and the presence of suitable nest sites often determines its distribution and density. Peregrine Falcons breed in a variety of different habitats across North America. Fortunately, a ban on the widespread use of DDT in 1972, coupled with extensive recovery efforts involving captive propagation and release and the species own reproductive determination, enabled the Peregrine Falcon to rebound to pre DDT-era levels. When Peregrine Falcons consume pesticide-laden prey, the pesticides accumulate in the peregrine’s fatty tissues and eventually interfere with an individual’s ability to produce eggshells of adequate thickness, thereby reducing reproductive success. Peregrine populations were extirpated from most of the species’ original range in the East, and most populations elsewhere experienced declines as well. Populations of this naturally rare species declined across North America during the 20th Century due to widespread use of DDT. There are 19 subspecies of Peregrine Falcons, three of which are found in North America. These “masters of the sky” are fast and maneuverable, not only when chasing prey but also while performing aerial courtship and territorial displays. For centuries Peregrine Falcons have been prized for falconry, especially the larger females. The species is a powerful hunter that is well suited for capturing avian prey. With speed, agility, and a trademark high-velocity stoop, the Peregrine Falcon is often considered to be the perfect flying machine. The species occurs in an extraordinary array of natural habitats, as well as in urban areas. Although widely distributed, the Peregrine Falcon is common in only a few places. Peregrines are found on every continent except Antarctica and some individuals migrate distances up to 25,000 km annually. ![]() Laws were enacted to ban DDT and, fortunately the ban, along with other conservation efforts, led to the recovery of the species.The word peregrine, which is Latin for “wanderer,” aptly describes this near cosmopolitan and often highly migratory falcon. Certain pesticides used by farmers-including DDT-harmed the peregrines by causing their eggshells to be dangerously thin-so fragile that they broke when the parents tried to incubate them. Peregrine falcons in the United States were listed as an endangered species after their numbers dropped dangerously low between the 1950s and the 1970s. Peregrine chicks stay in the nest for up to six weeks, by which time they've learned to fly. Parents incubate the eggs for about a month until the eggs hatch. Female peregrines lay two to four eggs at a time. They usually just find a shallow dip in some rocks or scrape a depression in the soil on the ledge of a cliff, or even use the ledge of a building. They make the return trip north when it's time to mate and lay eggs. Some peregrine falcons migrate in the winter from their nesting grounds in the Arctic all the way to South America-a round-trip distance of up to 15,500 miles (24,945 kilometers). They live in a greater variety of habitats than almost any other bird of prey. Their adaptability even allows them to thrive in cities. Peregrines live from cold tundra to hot deserts, from sea level to high in the mountains. A common bird of prey (a group of hunting birds that includes such birds as hawks and eagles), the peregrine is an adaptable falcon that can be found in almost any habitat. ![]()
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