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PEREGRINE
FALCON
Falcon peregrinus
STATUS IN NEW ENGLAND:
HABITAT: Open spaces close to rivers or coasts with cliffs or bluffs, cities with high buildings.
FOOD: Birds, typically caught in flight - waterfowl, pigeons, doves, shorebirds, songbirds.
The word "peregrine" comes from the Latin
word "to travel" or "to wander". The Peregrine
Falcon is the fastest creature on earth, with a diving flight speed
of up to 240 miles per hour. They do not build nests, but choose a
high place and scrape a spot on the ground for their eggs. They live
on cliff ledges and buildings and are likely to return to the same
nesting ledge year after year.
Peregrine Falcons were disappearing all over North America by the
1960's. They were extinct east of the Mississippi River. One theory
suggested that this was due to poisoning from the use of the pesticide
DDT. By the 1970's the Canadian and U.S. governments passed laws to
protect endangered species. They also made the use of DDT illegal
in the United States. Peregrine Falcons, Osprey, and Bald Eagles have
all seemed to benefit from this change as they have begun to return
to the Northeast.
ISIS
Isis turned three years old in 2003. She is a magnificent Peregrine Falcon, presumably from the Hartford, CT area. She was found in one of the parks in Hartford, after her right wing was fractured. She had been hit by a car and was immediately taken to a veterinarian for surgery. Unfortunately, the bones in her wing did not heal well enough for the demanding flight of the Peregrine Falcon, as Peregrines must fly perfectly since they catch their food in flight. Isis is an unusual bird because of her ability to adjust to new situations. If a bird is unable to be released back to its natural habitat, we begin training at Wind Over Wings by reading to the bird. As volunteers read to Isis, she became curious and interested. She quickly learned to step up on a glove in preparation for life as an educator. What a privilege it is to have this faculty member with our educational service. Isis is curious, very intelligent and loves to eat!
The Board of Directors of Wind Over Wings wish to thank Acorn Computing for this web site and
Ken Mulcahy for ongoing updates.
Wind Over Wings
22 Old Road
Clinton, CT 06413
(860) 669-4004
E-mail: windoverwings@comcast.net