Falcon Friends,
As we begin our studies of the falcons, we need to learn some general information about these amazing animals. The following books and background data will help you get started. This information is just a beginning. As you do your own research and discover interesting facts and thoughts, please share by sending your findings to the falcon squad
and we will sort and pass the information to the other schools that are studying the falcon.
BOOKS
The following books have been recommended by the Minnesota Raptor Center:
Reading about the peregrine falcon, by Carol Greene (1993) Peregrine falcons, by Candance Sherk Savage (1992) Learning to fly: [ a season with the peregrine falcon], by P.H. Liotta (1989) The Peregrine Falcon, by Carl R. Green (1986) Saving the peregrine falcon, by Caroline Arnold (c) 1985 Peregrine falcon, by Sylvia Funstun =======================================================
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:
1) How far does each bird have to travel from their winter homes to their breeding area in the Yukon River Valley? Make your calculations before the next weekly update. At that time we will post our calculations for comparison.
2) Are the results different if you use a globe to measure the distance instead of a flat map?
3) The falcon is the fastest flying animal. What is the speed at which it flies?
4) What are the fastest land and water animals and how fast do they travel?
================================================================ RAPTOR FACTS
PEREGRINE FALCON
* COMMON NAME: Peregrine Falcon * SCIENTIFIC NAME: Falco Peregrinus
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: A large falcon in which the sexes look alike. The female (the falcon) is about 1/3 larger than the male (the tiercel). Adults have a dark slate-blue back and wings and a dark blue tail that is lightly barred. The top of the head is dark with a dark stripe running down the side of the face. The cere, the legs, and feet are bright yellow. The underside of the adult is light with vertical streaks across the breast, belly and legs. Immatures are uniformally brown on the back, top of the head, and the wings,with a light underside streaked with brown. Peregrine Falcons are widely distributed resulting in many populations and sub-speices (22 by one count) each with a slight variation above the plumage.
RANGE: Distributed world wide, Peregrine Falcons are found on every continent except Antarctica. They can be found breeding in the arctic tundra, through Europe, and North America, and South America, the Pacific Islands and Australia.
HABITAT: Peregrine Falcons are birds of open spaces usually associated with high cliffs and bluffs overlooking rivers and coasts. Recently many cities with tall buildings have become home to pairs of Peregrines. Many populations are migratory (their name means "wndering falcon") and will travel great distances.
NESTING: Their nest is a scrape made on the bare rock of a cliff, where 2-4 eggs are laid. There are also a few records of tree-nesting Peregrine Falcons in the eastern United States. Recently many cities in North America have had Peregrines nesting on the ledges of tall buildings or under bridges.
FEEDING HABITS: The most spectacular of hunters, Peregrines feed almost exclusivly on birds they take in the air. High speed dives enable the Peregrines to catch everything from songbirds to herons and ducks.
RAPTOR CENTER DATA: One of the ten most common patients received in the clinic. Scince the late 1970's The Raptor Center has been involved in reintroductoin of this speices, which have recently resulted in breeding pairs in the Twin Cities as well as many other Midwestern states.
CONCERVATION STATUS: Listed as "endangered" both Fedrally and by the state of Minnesota. Peregrines are currently bred in captivity for release into the wild, and for the use in falconry.
Falcon Squad John Adams Middle School Rochester, Minnesota 0535jajh@informns.k12.mn.us