The Peregrine falcon preys on almost anything it
can find; from the pigeon, ducks and crane to the hare and smaller owls. They
are not picky; once they can spot and catch, they'll most likely kill. This
skillful hunter mostly hunts in midair, flying to great heights, and descending
at this incredible diving method, known as the stoop. With wings folded back
and legs tucked in, the falcon goes at its prey, striking with a clenched fist,
typically knocking the prey senseless, or dead. It then circles back and
catches the bird while still in the air. It's interesting to know that while such
speed and high air pressure will make the lungs of any other bird to literarily
burst, the Peregrine falcon has tubercles in its nostrils. These helps to
divert most of the air, and this enables the bird breathe more easily.
A peregrine falcon pair remains couple for life,
and uses the same nesting site for their breeding. Territoriality occurs, with neighboring
birds keeping their nests a minimum of 1km apart. Most of them prefer to nest at edges of cliffs. The Peregrine
falcon's courtship behaviors include spiral and steep dives, as well as aerial
acrobatics. If a prey is caught by the male, it passes it to the female, yea,
right in midair. This is possible by the ability of the bird to actually fly
upside down.
Their hunting prowess makes them favorites in
falconry, where birds are trained to hunt animals in the wild. They are also
used in airports to scare away birds so as to prevent bird-plane strikes.
Important birds, huh?
And, the
United Arab Emirates use the Falcon as its national animal. I bet you didn't
know!
However, these lovely birds harbor harmful
parasites and pathogens. It is a vector for Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV),
Avipoxvirus and some Herpes virus. They also carry Plasmodium relictum, which is capable of causing malaria in some avian
species.
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