Raptors at Risk

The Fastest Bird on Earth

Have you ever been dive-bombed by a large, squawking bird with long, pointed wings? If so, you may have come too close to the nest of a peregrine falcon. If a peregrine swooped down on you, you would remember because this falcon is the fastest bird on earth.

Nesting

The favourite spot for a peregrine falcon to make its nest is on the ledge of a cliff. When it can't find one, it will use abandoned nests or even the ledges of buildings in urban areas. The peregrine doesn't use materials to build its nest; it just scrapes out a hollow to lay its eggs.

The Raptor – A Bird of Prey

This falcon is a raptor which means it hunts and kills its food. Unlike other birds, that use their beaks to catch prey, the peregrine uses its strong feet and sharp talons. This falcon is so good at hunting that licensed falconers can buy one and train it to hunt for them. (Falconry is a practice that is thousands of years old.)

The Wanderer

The name "peregrine" means "wanderer". This bird has one of the longest migration routes of all the birds in North America. It has been known to travel up to 25,000 km (15,500 mi) in a year. Falcons from southern Ontario fly to Central and South America in the winter.

The Pesticide Problem

The peregrine is at the top of the food chain, eating mostly other medium-sized birds. Sometimes the birds it eats consume grain and insects that have been sprayed with pesticides. The pesticide DDT interfered with the peregrine's breeding pattern and resulted in the loss of many eggs and chicks. Before the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s the peregrine falcon was considered extirpated (completely gone) from Ontario.

Peregrine Recovery To help reestablish the peregrine population, biologists had to breed the birds in captivity and reintroduce them into the wild. The peregrine's status has improved. It is now considered "threatened" in Ontario. To see a video clip about how the peregrine was saved from extinction click here and then try out the quiz provided.	Photo: Courtesy of National Park Service

Photo: Michael "Mike" L. Baird bairdphotos.com

Canada's Largest Bird of Prey, the Bald Eagle

Another raptor that is making a comeback in Ontario is the bald eagle. Like the falcon, it was nearly extirpated in southern Ontario due to the effects of DDT. It was reclassified as a species of "special concern" in September 2009.

The bald eagle is known for its excellent eyesight, at least 4 times as good as a person's. It has very sharp talons which help it catch slippery fish, its very favourite food. If fish are scarce it will hunt birds and small mammals. The bald eagle can fly with about 2 kg. (4 lbs.) of food!

Photo: Pinegrove Productions

Eagles build their nests in the tops of tall trees, usually near water. They are always adding sticks to their nests. The largest bald eagle nest on record weighed 2 tons!

Groups such as the Leeds Stewardship Council have been actively providing more nesting opportunities by constructing eagles' nest platforms at suitable sites.	Photo: Garnet Baker

The bald eagle's nest is the largest of any bird in North America.

A Raptor in the Classroom?

The Canadian Peregrine Foundation offers a great program to schools in southern Ontario. The foundation will send a biologist to the school to introduce the peregrine falcon to students. Not only will students learn all about raptors they'll even have the opportunity to meet a live falcon!

After meeting a beautiful peregrine named Scotty, students in a grade 4 class at Meadowlane Public School in Kitchener Ontario, were inspired to help out. They raised 106.00 through a bake sale and donated the money to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation to help save the falcons.

Visit the Canadian Peregrine Foundation's website to learn more about the program.

An adult, female peregrine falcon named "Qetesh" visits with school children.	Photo courtesy of The Canadian Peregrine Foundation