Wall color:
The Peregrine Falcon’s eyesight is eight times more powerful than humans, allowing them to see small prey (usually birds) almost two miles away. Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal on the planet. The highest measured dive attack speed was clocked at 389 kilometers per hour (242 mph). The peregrine attacks at such extreme speed and force, that often its prey doesn’t know it is being attacked and dies almost instantly when struck.
In North America, and throughout much of the world, peregrine falcons were on the brink of extinction. From 1976 through 1994, in an attempt to save the species, peregrine falcons were raised in captivity. Now, after a forty-year effort, as a result of captive breeding and the discontinued use of DDT, peregrine falcon numbers are on the rise. Still, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada warns that the species remains vulnerable due to toxic chemicals and heavy metal contamination. Furthermore, because of loss of habitat, peregrine falcons have difficulty finding places to nest. In addition, recreational cliff climbers, getting too close to a peregrine falcon’s nest, can cause the bird to abandon their nest and young.
, 