The Peregrine Falcon Recovery

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth. It can dive through the air at over 200 miles per hour. Like the bald eagle, peregrine falcons were badly hurt by the chemical DDT. After DDT was banned, scientists worked to bring these incredible birds back.

Speed and Danger

Peregrine falcons hunt other birds by diving from high in the sky. This dive is called a stoop. DDT caused their eggshells to become thin and break easily. By the 1960s, peregrine falcons had disappeared from the eastern United States. Scientists knew they had to act fast.

Bred for the Wild

Scientists raised peregrine falcon chicks in special facilities. They carefully released the young birds into the wild. Some peregrines were even placed on tall city buildings, where they found plenty of pigeons to hunt. Today, peregrine falcons live on every continent except Antarctica and are no longer endangered.

Fun Facts

• A peregrine falcon's diving speed of over 240 miles per hour makes it faster than most race cars!
• Peregrine falcons have special bony bumps in their nostrils that help them breathe during high-speed dives.
• These falcons can spot prey from more than a mile away.

Did You Know?

Peregrine falcons now nest on skyscrapers, bridges, and water towers in many big cities around the world!