City - Santa Clara, Alviso State - CA Country - United States
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(#14)Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus. I got this shot this past Saturday at Alviso’s Nature Preserve. Only a few decades ago, Peregrine falcons were at the brink of extinction, however, thanks to courageous conservation efforts they are making a comeback. What follows is a brief description of the natural history of this magnificent bird of prey. The peregrine falcon’s awesome speed and superior hunting skills were little defense against the insidious effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons (from the chemical DDT) from the 1940s to 1970s. The estimated California population of 100-300 pairs prior to 1940 steadily plummeted to two known breeding pairs by 1970. The ban of DDT in North America in 1972, followed by intensive conservation and reintroduction efforts, have brought about a strong and heartening recovery across much of this raptor’s North American range. While migrants and wintering birds commonly hunt waterfowl and shorebirds, summer peregrines typically concentrate on birds of the forest canopy, capturing all manner of species, from woodpeckers to warblers. The scientific name peregrinus is latin for “wandering”, reflecting this species great range over much of the globe. Taken from: Birds of Northern California by Fix and Bezener. People have trained falcons for hunting for over a thousand years, and the Peregrine Falcon was always one of the most prized birds. Efforts to breed the Peregrine in captivity and reestablish populations depleted during the DDT years were greatly assisted by the existence of methods of handling captive falcons developed by falconers. The Peregrine Falcon is a very fast flier, averaging 40-55 km/h (25-34 mph) in traveling flight, and reaching speeds up to 112 km/h (69 mph) in direct pursuit of prey. During its spectacular hunting stoop from heights of over 1 km (0.62 mi), the peregrine may reach speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph) as it drops toward its prey. From Cornell Lab Ornithology Bird Guide
Hey Yamil! Now this is what I call an abstract bird photo! Excellent capture and framing. Kinda slow around there, I'm surprised there's not a lot of birds around - or I maybe I'm going to the wrong places. Let's get together sometime. Take care!
Great view of a rare bird, indeed. Can't say I have ever seen one, though I might have been dive-bombed by one a few years ago. It was moving so fast that I never got a good look.
This pic is also timely, as last week the WHO announced that they have proposed the reintroduction of DDT in Africa to try and control malaria. They officially said "indoors" but I don't know if consumers in Africa will understand the difference. Poisoned insects and prey animals may later be taken by raptors, and it makes me worry a little. Although I guess I understand their rationale, raising human life above the natural world, I am still dismayed.
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