Peregrine Falcon is Bird of the Year

The Bird of the Year 2018 is a lightning-fast hunter. It dives at its prey at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. But the peregrine falcon is exceptional in other ways too. It is found on every continent except Antarctica and nests both on cliff faces and in the heart of cities. Yet new threats such as poisoning, wind farms, and other hazards are now taking their toll – and this remarkable species continues to need rigorous protection if it is to have a future.

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world. It dives at other birds with breathtaking speed, seizing them in its talons and consuming them later in a safe location. The male also performs stoops at over 250 kilometres per hour during its courtship display in spring. It is no wonder that people were already fascinated by the peregrine falcon in pre-Christian times, as evidenced by the falcon-like Egyptian god Horus.

With a wingspan of up to 1.1 m and a length of 40 to 50 cm, the peregrine falcon is the largest native falcon. The female is slightly larger than the male. Like other birds of prey, the “Bird of the Year” has extremely sharp eyes and needle-like talons. It specialises in hunting birds in flight.

Nursery at the Cooling Tower

In Switzerland, most peregrine falcons nest on cliff faces in the Mittelland and Jura regions. A few pairs have established their nesting sites on tall buildings in cities or even make use of the cooling towers of nuclear power plants. The breeding season begins with courtship, during which not only rapid display flights take place but also mid-air prey transfers.

From the beginning of March, the female lays three to four eggs in a nest hollow. Incubation is carried out primarily by the female; the male goes hunting and provides his partner with prey. The incubation period is around four weeks. After hatching, the young are cared for in the nest for 36 to 40 days. They then take their first flight and learn from their parents how to catch prey. In midsummer, the family disperses.

The devastating effects of a pesticide

Peregrine falcons were severely affected by the pesticide DDT from 1950 onwards. Due to the poison, they — like other birds of prey — laid eggs with shells that were too thin, with the result that breeding success dropped to almost zero. The hunting that was still permitted at the time also took its toll. The peregrine falcon disappeared as a breeding bird from many European countries. In Switzerland, only small remnant populations managed to survive.

The slow recovery began after the ban on DDT in the 1970s. Today, the “Bird of the Year” has recolonised many parts of Europe — a major success for international conservation. Around 300 pairs are counted in Switzerland. Worldwide, this adaptable species can be found on every continent — except Antarctica. Were it not for the threats posed by poison and hunting, the peregrine falcon would ask for little: all it needs is an undisturbed nesting site, sufficient prey, and open airspace for hunting.

New threats

New dangers are now looming: BirdLife Switzerland has recorded more than a dozen poisoning cases in recent years. In these incidents, certain pigeon breeders attempted to poison falcons by preparing their pigeons with highly potent poison. The now-famous female peregrine falcon from Zurich, which died in its nest in front of a live webcam, was just one of the victims. Two breeders have so far been identified and convicted. However, the number of unreported cases is likely to be large — as many urban nesting sites of peregrine falcons have been abandoned and the Swiss population has declined by around 15 percent in recent years. Additional threats include new wind farms, increasing disturbances at nesting cliffs, invisible glass panes, and more.

BirdLife Switzerland is doing everything it can to ensure that the peregrine falcon has a future in Switzerland. “The latter is unfortunately not a given,” explains Werner Müller, Executive Director of BirdLife Switzerland. “It requires ongoing commitment and rigorous protection.” This includes the fight against poisoning, efforts to promote biodiversity in urban areas, as well as the continuous campaign against the most harmful pesticides and other environmental toxins. These measures benefit not only the peregrine falcon, but also many other species.

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