Peregrine Falcon |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKqt05iR9WI&feature=player_embedded#!
Although their population numbers suffered tremendous, pesticide-induced blows during the 20th century, they have made quite a comeback throughout the United States. However, it was a close call. Use of pesticides like DDT (commonly known as DEET, used to be common in mosquito repellent before its negative impacts on the environment became fully known) caused the Peregrine Falcon's eggshells to become weak, and they were easily broken. The result of this was very few baby falcons surviving to breed themselves. In fact, at one point it got so bad that the Peregrine Falcon was listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN in the 1950's through the 1970's. It became extirpated, or locally extinct, in both Belgium and the eastern United States. However, now it is labeled as "Least Concern;" an amazing comeback, for an amazing bird.
This picture of the Peregrine Falcon was taken by me, last week at the Reptile Day at Dinosaur Ridge, near Golden. My friend Masaki Kleinkopf and I went and were able to see a few pretty cool things, the Peregrine Falcon being just one of them. I highly recommend going to check out the Ridge, as well as the museum they have there, it is really quire interesting!
Don't forget to check in later in the day for this week's challenge!
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