These amazing predators live in open country, cliffs, valleys and cityscapes. Two subspecies of the peregrine falcon can be found in Ontario, the anatum and the tundrius. The tundrius subspecies spends its summers in the Arctic and the flies as far south as South America in the colder months. They nest on cliff edges or skyscrapers. Their primary food source is other birds which they catch in mid air. In the city they eat a great deal of pigeons and starlings while in wilder country they eat songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, seabirds and the occasional bat or insect. |
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Courtship displays include spectacular aerobatic flights and dives by the male. A pair may mate for life and will aggressively defend their nest. The female will usually lay between 3 and 5 eggs in early spring, which will be incubated for 1 month. After hatching, the young will remain in the nest for approximately 6 weeks and will stay dependant on the parent birds for a couple of months. The use of DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane) in agricultural practices in the past (which migrated through the food chain to the peregrine), resulted in a dramatic decline in peregrine populations. The contaminate caused thinning of their egg shells and high mortality. In Ontario, DDT use has been reduced and even eliminated in some areas and as a result the peregrine has been allowed to make an incredible comeback, thanks in great part to captive breeding and reintroduction programs. Unfortunately, our native peregrines do migrate to places that have not banned DDT and they are still exposed to it during the winter months.Though peregrine falcons, like other birds of prey, are considered to be near the top of the food chain, they are not completely free from predators. Adults may be killed by other large birds of prey, such as great horned owl, gyrfalcons and golden eagles. Nestlings and fledglings may be taken by mammalian predators such as cats, bears, wolverines, or foxes, particularly in nests that are closer to the ground. |
