PEREGRINE FALCON

Although grim to watch the peregrine falcon it’s dramatic and spectacular hunt. A high-speed but graceful dive to its prey makes the peregrine falcon the most lethal killer in nature.

High above the ground the peregrine falcon circles and then in a cloud of feather it attacks another bird. When it falls to the ground it soon dives and picks it up in powerful talons to carry it away.

There are several different species of birds of prey which would attack other birds. The peregrine falcon is one of few hunting in open country sites. The disadvantage is the victim can see the falcon coming. To prevent missing its prey the bird developed a unique hunting style.

It rises to a great height and circles there until a bird flies within its range. The falcon’s prey such as pigeons, waders and ducks has a good all-round vision and look around for danger all the time. It is almost impossible for to see since only a very small spot up in the sky gliding slowly around.

It can happen that the bird is so high that it isn’t visible at all. They are not invisible to other falcons because the falcon has an incredible sharp eye sight. Scientist discover that part of the eye even magnifies is six-fold. This enables the peregrine to look down like through binoculars but their prey don’t see them at all.

The bird chooses its prey with care. For example, to attack a pigeons which flies over forests would be useless because the pigeon would dive under the branches and therefore lost the falcon. It chooses a bird flying over open countrysides. When it discovers a possible prey it speeds up. The falcon is very well adapted and its wings are long and pointed at the end. This enables the falcon to fly very fast and catches up with it victim. Of course, its prey will spot it by now and speed up. The falcon rises above it and when it is almost above the hunted bird it launched the final and fatal attack.

It dives head-on into the other bird, dives past it and strike the victim with its sharp talons of its muscular feet. It has not been established the speed it has when it dives. It is assumed it cold be about240km/h when it strikes. Most of the times the blow is so strong the other bird is dead. Sometimes the falcon catches the prey straight away and sometime it dives past it and catches the dead or injured bird as it falls down. It also could happen that the hunted bird dodges its killer and there would be an aerial display of chasing. This is very rare because once the falcon comes so close there won’t be a lot of chances left.

Although the whole scene looks easy and skilful but in reality it does take a lot of judging and efforts. Even at the end to catch the dead bird takes a lot of strength. If the falcon misjudges both would fall to the ground and the falcon could be injured.

BREEDING

Due to their habit of hunting over open ground they have a problem to find a safe nesting place. If possible they nest on crags or sea cliffs on selected edges and if possible still with and overhang. To prevent climbers to reach their nests.  It had been seen that peregrine falcon were nesting on tall city buildings. 

However, the moment they have chosen their nesting sites they will come back to it years after year. If one adult died the bird left will stay at the nesting site and wait until another bird will join it which is mostly a younger bird ready to breed for the first time. This will result into that the two birds are of a different age and one more experienced.

Peregrine falcons do either take over old nests from ravens or buzzards or just make a hollow into earth. The female lays three or four reddish, mottled eggs. She sits mostly on the nest which is about 31 days.  If she leaves, the male takes over. When the eggs are hatched the male will supply the food for the whole family. The old law of nature applies if they are not enough food the young ones will die. When the time comes that the adults can safely leave the nest they both go hunting for food. After they leave the nest the adult still care for them for about two months. During this time they learn how to hunt. At the end of late summer will they leave altogether?

To hunt successfully requires experience. Many young falcons have a hard time. It is thought that at least half of them die of hunger or get killed by predators before they are a year old. A quarter of the survivors die in the following year. They also have to be at least two years old to breed and hunt successfully to support a family.

HAND REARED

Peregrine falcons are hand reared for Falconry. A peregrine is usually bred in captivity an d hand-reared for a bout ten days. Then they are returned to their natural parents. Peregrines make perfect parents. If the bird doesn't get returned to its parents and stays with its "carer" long it is hard to trains for falconry. The reason is the bird demands food constantly and therefore not possible to train.