OT: Peregrine Falcon

[Randrew215]

I was just on Nottingham in Buffalo and saw one attack some chickadees. It was awesome! I've heard of several new nesting pairs in Buffalo this year. I'm totally pleased that it looks like the populations are increasing. Anybody know about the status of their population?
Also, it says online that they dive at 220 miles/hour. Thank you, mother nature.

 

[Breadman03]

I believe they are also being captive bred for avian control at airports.

 

[block head]

Peregrine falcons aren t very common in our area. Kestrels and other falcons are pretty common. Pretty hard to distinguish between hawks,swifts, falcons. I've had blast following around a few falconers.

 

[emm0909]

We've had a pair on top of the Kodak building in Rochester for years. They actually have a web cam on them.

Fastest animal on the planet. Pretty small bird of prey.

 

[block head]

Pretty sure those were introduced. Kestrels are the smallest falcon and songbirds are a common food source. Pigeons, ducks, upland birds are more typical Peregrine prey. Lots of videos on u tube. Falconers sometimes train the birds to attack larger prey items. Migration of birds of prey can be bit squirrely at times. Its about the most regulated activity you do in america. Much easier to buy machine guns or narcotics. No one can legally own a falcon. You basically have a permit to have bird in your possession.

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

I posted this on the other bird thread. If anyone missed it:

http://www.buffalo.edu/falconcam.html

 

[talon4x4]

I posted this on the other bird thread. If anyone missed it:

http://www.buffalo.edu/falconcam.html

That's awesome!! Hopefully those eggs hatch into some healthy chicks.

 

[SquidwardTentacles]

That's awesome!! Hopefully those eggs hatch into some healthy chicks.

...and it looks like they did while I was away for the week.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah I drive past those ones at UB every day . They were terrorizing some people in Winspear a couple years ago

 

[cardiffgiant]

Peregrine falcons aren t very common in our area. Kestrels and other falcons are pretty common. Pretty hard to distinguish between hawks,swifts, falcons. I've had blast following around a few falconers.

Agreed. In a more urban environment, you'd be most likely to see peregrines on top of large buildings or bridges. A lot of times they hunt by soaring very high and then dive and hit other birds with their talons in mid air. The evidence of the hunt usually looks like an explosion of feathers in the air. One of my favorite birds.

Kestrels go after smaller prey and are occasionally found hunting the types of things that we see in our back yards and at our bird feeders. Also one of my favorites.

Both are incredibly awesome creatures. When I was a kid my grandfather used to volunteer for a sanctuary for raptors and I'd help out here and there. We'd do a lot of work with various owls, turkey vultures, hawks (lots of red tails), some eagles, and the occasional falcon. I even got to see a condor fly out in the open.