Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrines

1. Peregrine FalconFalco peregrines By: Angel T.

2. SWBAT’s • SWBAT learn interesting facts about the Peregrine Falcon. • SWBAT identify where Peregrines live and where they nest • SWBAT identity the difference between female and male Peregrines.

3. The Peregrine Falcon • The scientific name for the Peregrine Falcon is Falco peregrines. • Peregrine Falcons are sleek, crow-sized birds of prey, famous for their speed. For hundred of years, peregrines have been prized for the sport of falconry. • Traditionally, the females has been known as the “falcon” because they are larger and stronger, and the males are known as the “tiercels”, which means “one-third”; males are one third smaller than females. Adult Male Peregrine Falcon Adult Female Peregrine Falcon

4. Interesting Facts • These falcons are the fastest birds in the world. They can go to about 200 mph when catching their prey. Another name for the Peregrine Falcon is “Duck Hawk” Peregrines has been the favorite of falconers for 3000 years, ever since central Asia pursued games with trained hawks

5. Food Web of the Peregrine Falcon Great Horned Owl Golden Eagle Raccoons (eats Peregrine eggs) Peregrine Falcon waterfowl Key: Top Consumer/Tertiary Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producer American Robins Fruits insects rodents sun

6. Habitat/Biomes • The Peregrine Falcon lives in a wide variety of tropics, deserts, and maritime to tundra. • The Peregrine Falcon is found to exist in a wide range of areas around the globe from the Arctic to the Equator. The Peregrine Falcon is found on every continent except Antarctica and on many oceanic islands. Peregrines mostly nests on steep cliffs. It’s like their traditional use of certain ledges for nesting. Today, these falcons have adapted to nest in large skyscrapers in cities. Red = Peregrine Habitat

7. The Peregrine Falcon Disease • Mouth infections is a common disease for falcons. The disease is called “Frounce”, a mouth-and throat-infection caused by a protozoan Tichomonas gallinae. It is a widely spread disease falcons and hawks and it is caused by eating infected birds of prey, for example, pigeons. • Mostly juvenile peregrines has this disease, but it can hit the adult falcons as well. • Another disease that affect the Peregrine Falcon is called Avian Influenza Virus, also known as H5N1. It is a virus that can kill up to 6,000 wild birds. This is also a virus that can affect humans. • In 2004, it has been reported that many wild birds were tested in Hong Kong, and many had died.

8. Abiotic Factors This Falcon used to be endangered because of DDT.DDT is a pesticide that causes females to lay thin-shelled eggs, which causes the eggs to break easily. Killing the embryo inside. It happened during the 1940’s – 1960’s. Because of this, it nearly caused the Peregrine Falcon to be extinct.

9. How can we help to protect the Peregrine Falcon? • Stop falconers from hunting them down for fun. • Don’t kill any Peregrine Falcons because they were an endangered species and it is against the law to kill any Peregrines. It is also illegal to own Peregrine feathers and eggs without permission. • Cornell university scientists help raise the chicks and it helped increase the Peregrine Falcon’s population.

10. Summary Questions 1. The female Peregrine is known as the: • “falcon” • “tiercel” • “Mother Bird” • None of the above The Correct Answer is: A

11. Summary Questions (cont.) • 3 Facts and a Fib. Identify the Fib: • The Peregrine Falcon is also known as “Duck Eagle.” • The Peregrine Falcon can go up to 200 mph when catching their prey. • The Peregrine Falcon eats medium-sized birds such as waterfowl. • The Peregrine Falcon lives all around the world, except Antarctica and some oceanic islands The Correct Answer is: A

12. Summary Questions (cont.) • Identify which organism is NOT one of the Peregrine Falcon’s prey. • Waterfowl • Insects • American Robin • Great-Horned Owl The Correct Answer is: D

13. Bibliography • Peregrine Falcon Diet, www.defenders.org/wildlife_and _habitat/wildlife/peregrine_falcon.php, 4/10/08 • Peregrine Falcon Facts, www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Peregrine_Falcon_dtl.html, 5/5/08 • Peregrine Falcon Facts, www.fws.gov/chesapeakbay/Peregr.htm, 5/5/08 • Peregrine Falcon habitats and habitat map, www.peregrinefund.org/explor_raptors/falcons/peregrin.html, 5/9/08 • Picture of Peregrine, www.tpwd.state.ts.us/huntwild/wild/images/birds/pergrine2.jpg, 5/15/08 • Picture of Peregrine 2, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animal, 5/15/08 • Peregrine Disease, www.hpathy.com/materiamedica/letzel-peregrine1.asp, 5/23/08 • Picture of Peregrine 3, www.bbc.co.uk/earth/uk/content/images/gallery/1330_falcon_noburba, 5/23/08 • Peregrine Falcon Picture 4, www.audobon.org/centennial/images/species/Peregr, 5/29/08 • Peregrine Falcon Picture, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals, 5/29/08 Peregrine Falcon Picture http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/3000/3069/peregrine-falcon_1_lg.gif 5/29/08

14. Bibliography (cont.) • Picture of Peregrine Falcon, http://www.brettb.com/CanonEOS300D_Photos?Hybrid_Peregrine_Falcon.jpg-Micro, 5/29/08 • Picture of Peregrine Falcon, http://redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/Images/Birds/peregrinefalconU.jpg-Micro, 5/29/08 • Picture of Peregrine Falcon, http://www.tulsawalk.com/birding/images/pfalcon2.jpg, 5/29/08 • Peregrine Falcon disease H5N1, http://www.savethefalcons.org/science_archive/science_archive_02.asp, 5/29/08 • Peregrine Picture, http://www.birdinginttaiwan.org/Birdsintwn/PeregrineFalcon3.JPG, 5/29/08 • Peregrine Picture, http://www.doorcountykayaktours.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/peregrinefalconkk.jpg, 5/29/08