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Frank's fab Falcon Facts |
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1. Peregrines are indeed the fastest creatures on the planet, diving steeply at speeds in excess of 300 km/h (185mph) into either wing of its prey, so as not to harm itself on impact. The fastest speed recorded is 390 km/h (242.3mph), which is over three times faster than the cheetah who clocks a speed of around 70mph. |
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2. Peregrines are widespread. They breed throughout the entire world and are found on all continents except Antartica (the southern most of southern hemisphere peregrines migrate only short distances, if at all, and migrate along western ridges not any further south). They live mostly along mountain ranges, river valleys and coastlines, and increasingly in cities. Arctic and north temperate populations are migratory with some birds flying from Alaska to Argentina - a round trip of 15,000 miles! |
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3. Peregrines hunt by soaring high above their prey. Once their target is singled out, they fold their wings and drop (stoop) headlong towards it. As the peregrine reaches its prey, its wings are extended in a braking motion while the legs are thrust forward. The prey is usually killed by the impact of this mid-air collision. It has been calculated that as a peregrine comes out of a stoop, straightening out to horizontal flight, it is pulling at least 6G. |
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4. Peregrine nests are known as 'scrapes' because they scrape a hole in a gravel surface. In the Northern Hemisphere, egg laying typically occurs between late March and the end of April when the female will deposit a clutch of three to four eggs. Incubation (sitting on eggs to provide heat) occurs only after all of the eggs have been laid and lasts between 29 and 32 days. |
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5. After hatching, the young are totally dependent upon their parents until they are ready to fly in about seven weeks. Upon leaving the nest (known as fledging), the young remain dependent to a degree on the adults for a further two months until they master their flight and hunting skills. The average life span of a Peregrine Falcon is approximately eight to ten years, although some have been recorded to live until slightly more than twenty years of age. |
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6. Baby falcons are called "eyasses" and are totally helpless when born. They eat an incredible amount of food - doubling their weight in only six days. At three weeks they will be ten times their birth size. However, Peregrine eggs and chicks are often targeted by thieves and collectors, so the location of their nest should not be revealed unless they are protected. |
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7. Peregrine pairs mate for life (although there are the occasional divorces and change-overs) and often use the same nest site for many years in a row. Their courtship flight includes a mix of aerial acrobatics, precise spirals, and steep dives. The male passes prey it has caught to the female in midair. To make this possible, the female actually flies upside-down to receive the food from the male's talons (claws). |
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8. As is true in most species of birds of prey, the female is larger than the male. Bonded pairs of peregrines have been seen hunting cooperatively. Peregrines have also been observed storing caught prey in a safe location for feeding on later. This is known as “caching” behaviour and is an important source of food if bad weather stops. |
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9. The word Peregrine means “wanderer” and probably stems from the fact that they have migrated all over the world. Falco literally means “sickle shaped” and refers to the curved, hooklike shape of Peregrines. |
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10. Falconry is the art of hunting with a falcon. At one time, the type of falcon an Englishman was allowed to own marked his rank. Owning a Peregrine meant your rank was that of an earl (an English nobleman). Notable falconers and enthusiasts include William Shakespeare, Marco Polo, and Ghengis Khan. |
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