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Species
Birds
- Cormorant, Double-crested (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Cormorant, Pelagic (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
- Crow, Northwestern (Corvus caurinus)
- Eagle, American Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Falcon, Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
- Gull, Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis)
- Gull, Glaucous-winged (Larus glaucescens)
- Hawk, Cooper's (Accipiter cooperii)
- Heron (Fannini subspecies - Ardea herodias fannini)
- Killdeer (Charadruis vociferus)
- Owl, Barred (Strix varia)
- Owl, Saw-Whet (Aegolius acadicus)
Mammals
Peregrine falcons can reach up to speeds of 320km/h!
(Image courtesy of Bob Boisvert)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Did You Know?
- "Peregrine" means wanderer; the peregrine falcon has one of the longest migration periods
- Peregrine falcons were always prized birds for training to hunt
- To catch their prey, peregrine falcons drop from a spectacular height and reach speeds of up to 320km/h
- The peregrine falcon can be found on any continent except for the Antarctic and oceanic islands
Description:
- Peregrine falcons are large falcons with long pointed wings, a black head and dark upperwings, grey and black barred underparts, large yellow feet, and a yellow upper beak
Habitat:
- Peregrine falcons inhabit mostly cliffs near open areas where they can forage
- They migrate to the Carribean and South America
A bite to the neck ends the life of a falcon’s prey
(Image courtesy of Erwin and Peggy Bauer)
Diet:
- Peregrine falcons feed mainly on birds, from songbirds to small geese, bats and small animals
- They search for their prey by perching up in the trees and swooping suddenly from above
- The prey is killed instantly by a bite to the neck
Conservation:
- In the middle of the 1900’s, the population was almost wiped out by DDT poisoning
- It was declared an endangered species until 1999, until drastic efforts were put into place to save the birds
- These birds often inhabit large cities and build nests on buildings, so they are somewhat of pests to building owners sometimes
