Andrew Cao, Land O' Pines School
Monmouth County
Peregrine falcon. Monmouth County. Andrew Cao
Peregrine Falcon
What if you were endangered human? Just think about your race dying out one by one. When you come home seeing your little or loved ones dead? Its like a horror movie but realistic. I am a Peregrine Falcon or Falco peregrinus, our scientific name, and all that I described to you is my average day and, how my species is on the brink of extinction.
You can identify us by our long pointed wings and our excellent flight. We are, in fact, the fastest animal on earth, in diving flight. We are crow sized and have a 36-44 inch wingspan. Our species can be found making nests around ledges on rock cliffs, on tall buildings or in some human made nest boxes. We lay about 3-4 eggs a year. Some eggs don't survive due to infertility, breakage, or weather. Our diet consists of small birds such as pigeons, and we even eat small rodents and bugs.
Our main threat is DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) which is a pesticide that was used in WWII. Now how does that harm us? You see insects that were infected got eaten by smaller birds of prey which are also infected. When we eat the small birds we also get infected. This causes our eggshells to be very thin and when we try to incubate our eggs they break. What a tragedy right?
Now with the ban of DDT in l972, there is a new hope for Peregrine Falcons. Our populations have been rising since DDT was banned. In New Jersey, hacking sites are set to help our kind. Help save us by making nest boxes and put them in high towers to help give us a protective nest. Help save our amazing kind and if you were endangered wouldn't you want to be saved?
Written by: Andrew Cao
Land O' Pines School, Howell
Teacher: Mrs. Madison