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12 rnoWelyTmsiWdedaSptm " , 99 = WITH DUCKS UNLIMITED THEPEREGRINE FALCON Sometimes known in North Amenica as the duck hawk, the pere grine falcon's pointed wingtips and tootih-like projections on either side of its upper bll leave no doubt it's a true falcon. In fact,' thiscrow-sized bird is the same species that has been used in fal- conry for thousands of years. It's distinguished from, other falcons by ils black crowned head and distinctive black mous- tache-lilce markings on ils pale-col- ored neck and throat. Its back, taau, and wings are dark blue-grey, and ils pale abdomen is barred with cark grey-brown. The word peregrine means "coming from foreign lands,'" and it's a sitable name for- a bird with one of the widest natu- ral ranges of any bird species. In fact, the only places where pere- grines are not found are at the North Pole, on Iceland, and on the continent of Antarctica. They're rarely found in heavily forested mountain ranges or tropical jun- gles, either., Peregrines breed in cool- er, higher latitudes, both north and south of the equator. North American breeding grounds include Western U.S.A., Alaska, most of Canada and some Arctic islands. Migrations carry them throughout ahl of southern Canada where they are often seen hunting over marshlands. Though mos t spend winters in warmer southern climates, some stay as far north as the British Columbia coast, or southemn Ontario all winter. Peregrine nests are often little more than shallow depres- sions usually placed in isolated lookouls on a ledge of a cliff with an overhang, or even on a sill near the top of à high building. Three to five eggs are laid and both parents incubate and attend to the young, shielding them from the sun and feeding them small pieces of prey. Though born helpless, peregrines are almost adult-sized and stirting to learn how to fly at five or six weeks in age. They lean to fly by exercising their wings vig- orously until they lift from the nest. Soon after that first awkward flight, the young are taught to catch thieir own prey, and the family disperses. the 1950's. By 1964, no breeding pairs existed east of the Mis sissippi River in the U.S.A. Researchers linked the decline to the widespread use of toxie pesticides like DDT. These chemicals worked their way through the food chain, becoming more concentrated with each link, until they reached extreme levels in the carnivores at the top. In pere- grines and other birds of prey, the chemicals interfered with breeding behaviour, eggshell formation and hatching success. By the 1970's, the pere- grine had become a conservation symbol - in effect, an early warn- ing to man. Its plight flot only forced government action to ban the use of DDT, it helped open public eyes a littie wider to the need for man, who is at the top of his own food chain, to tread care- fully in the natural world and pro- tect the future for other living beings as well as his own. ~C5ÀC eOOl Molk 196,0 SARE 60O *ACk fro -rDE i>ï'Îs o09L.I 439i4 *(elceýe,(e ,~I Peregrines are extremely powerful and agile fliers. They can gain altitude in a flash with appar- ent ease, almost as if simply bound- ing upward. In level flight, they sel- dom glide, preferring instead to move Iazily aloflg at about 65 to 90 kph with a constant rowing wing motion. But the most spectacular part of a peregrine falcon's flight is called a "stoop"~ or a dive. It liter- ally tucks in its wings and falîs from a height like a guided missile, attaining blistering speeds of 250 kph or more. At the bottom of the dive, it quickly spreads ils wings and levels out overtaking ils prey and delivering a fatal blow with its talons. Peregrines exist on a diet of birds ranging from tiny passer- mnes to marsh birds occassionally as large as geese and herons. They normally catch their prey in the wing, and there are few birds they cannot overtake. Though they are sometimes persecuted for feeding on game birds or unprotected farmn birds and for taking more conspie- uous species in disproportionate numbers, it's extremely unlikely foý peregrines to be numerous enough in any one area to cause a noticeable decline in the popula- tion of any one species. Though North American peregrine populations were rela- ively stable previously, they began falling at an alarming rate during SONBON PUBLISHING For ail your Printing Needs Phone Us For a Free Estimate on Business Cards, Flyers, Letterhead, Carbonless Papers and much, much, more! Sonbon Publishing, would like to wý,elcome Sean Pickard to our staff. Sean bals worked at both James Publishing and Newcastle Graphics, but bas found a homne here with Us. 983-5301