Status: Least Concern
Scientific Name for My Nerds: Falco Peregrinus
Description:
This month's pictures come from one entire family of peregrine falcons who live on the edge of the world. Peregrines are found on every continent except for Antarctica and also live on many remote islands. It turns out that coastal environments are perfect for peregrine falcons because of the expansive, open habitat with rocky cover for nesting. Not to mention the wide variety of prey items, which are mostly birds. Peregrine falcons are specialist bird hunters. The evolutionary importance of being able to catch their prey means developing unique physical characteristics that help them dive on their prey at speeds of over 240 miles per hour. No creature on Earth can match the peregrine's raw power for speed. They can only reach maximum velocity, and typically hunt, in open airspace and so shift their shape to easily pass through the air's molecules.
Juvenile peregrines are a gorgeous peachy-rose color and as they turn into adults, they will trade in those colors for their adult charcoal and whites colors. Like with most bird of prey, females are a third larger than the males. That size enables females to become the matriarchs of their societies.
Conservation:
Peregrines falcons almost went extinct in the 1970's because of the pesticide DDT (now banned), but thanks to an organization called The Peregrine Fund that was established just to help them recover, along with other organizations, agencies, and zoos, the world's fastest beings have made a spectacular comeback and is considered one of the greatest conservation successes in history, again proving that bringing back species from the brink of extinction can be done and will continue to flourish with the help of people who understand the value of nature.
Scientific Name for My Nerds: Falco Peregrinus
Description:
This month's pictures come from one entire family of peregrine falcons who live on the edge of the world. Peregrines are found on every continent except for Antarctica and also live on many remote islands. It turns out that coastal environments are perfect for peregrine falcons because of the expansive, open habitat with rocky cover for nesting. Not to mention the wide variety of prey items, which are mostly birds. Peregrine falcons are specialist bird hunters. The evolutionary importance of being able to catch their prey means developing unique physical characteristics that help them dive on their prey at speeds of over 240 miles per hour. No creature on Earth can match the peregrine's raw power for speed. They can only reach maximum velocity, and typically hunt, in open airspace and so shift their shape to easily pass through the air's molecules.
Juvenile peregrines are a gorgeous peachy-rose color and as they turn into adults, they will trade in those colors for their adult charcoal and whites colors. Like with most bird of prey, females are a third larger than the males. That size enables females to become the matriarchs of their societies.
Conservation:
Peregrines falcons almost went extinct in the 1970's because of the pesticide DDT (now banned), but thanks to an organization called The Peregrine Fund that was established just to help them recover, along with other organizations, agencies, and zoos, the world's fastest beings have made a spectacular comeback and is considered one of the greatest conservation successes in history, again proving that bringing back species from the brink of extinction can be done and will continue to flourish with the help of people who understand the value of nature.
The three siblings. Brother leads with his two bigger, younger sisters close behind.