| Falcons are amazing predators and in my opinion the | | | | quickly and strike again and again. They are also well |
| most spectacular aerial predator in the world. They | | | | known for chasing their prey down after the initial |
| are not the strongest amongst birds of prey, but | | | | strike. They sometimes hit with their feet and talons |
| their hunting tactics are truly remarkable. There is a | | | | open and sometime with their feet closed making a |
| reason that fighter jets are designed after falcons. | | | | fist. Either way is enough to make a lethal blow to its |
| Its not just the amazing speed, but also the way | | | | prey. |
| they are able to turn at g-forces that would kill a | | | | The Peregrine Falcon has been documented diving at |
| human being. | | | | speeds at 232mph. This 2 pound bird has been |
| There are many types of falcons throughout the | | | | known to take prey as large as a 9 pound sage |
| world and North America. The most common found | | | | grouse, the largest game bird in North America. In the |
| in North America are the Prairie Falcon, American | | | | falconry world, falconers breed falcons for hunting |
| Kestrel, Merlin, Gyr Falcon, and the infamous | | | | purposes. The popular falcon to breed is a hybrid, a |
| Peregrine Falcon. Kestrels hunt in a different fashion | | | | bird that is half peregrine and half gyr falcon. |
| and do not use diving techniques. The Peregrine is | | | | Falconers like to use male birds because of their |
| the most well known for its speed and hunting ability. | | | | tenacity, the problem is the males are smaller than |
| In my opinion the gyr falcon, although larger is as | | | | females and are not large enough to take down the |
| fast as the peregrine. | | | | popular sage grouse. This hybrid bird is perfect for |
| Falcons mainly prey upon other birds, such as ducks, | | | | sage grouse hunting, they get the large size from the |
| pigeons, grouse, etc... They fly high in the sky far | | | | gyr falcon and the tenacity from the peregrine falcon. |
| above their prey and when ready to pursue, go into | | | | These hybrids are usually the size of a female |
| an incredible dive. In the dive they turn in a cork | | | | peregrine, but have the personality of a male. |
| screw fashion after their prey. Even though the | | | | The peregrine falcon seemed to be doomed to |
| fastest way from one point to the other is a straight | | | | extinction because of a chemical pesticide, called DDT |
| line, the falcon dives in this way to keep its eye on | | | | that farmer used on their crops. Finally the US |
| its prey. The reason is their eyes are placed more on | | | | banned DDT and since then the peregrine, along with |
| the side of their head, instead of looking straight | | | | many other species of birds have made a full |
| forward like humans. They have long narrow wings | | | | recovery. The peregrine is common and will even |
| built for speed and a long narrow tail built for amazing | | | | build their nests on ledges of giant building that |
| turning capability. They strike their prey at incredible | | | | resemble a cliff in big cities. Watch high in the sky for |
| speeds in mid-air, sometimes the one strike is all it | | | | this amazing predator that is truly the jet fighter of |
| takes to kill. If not the falcon will gain altitude again | | | | the bird world. |