Tuesday, September 28, 2021 | 02:08pm
The Peregrine Falcon is swift, fearless, and powerful. From ledges high on rocky cliffs, the falcon sits motionless, surveying its surroundings. When it spies its quarry — an unwary ground squirrel or pigeon — the falcon launches into the air. In seconds it accelerates from a stand-still to a blur of speed; it strikes with one talon foot before the prey has time to react. When a small bird flushes ahead of a peregrine, it shifts into high gear delivering a head on kill. The falcon streaks forward like an arrow, with great agility then twisting and turning in zigzag pursuit. It easily outmaneuvers even the swiftest of smaller birds.