As the fastest animal in the world, the peregrine falcon is a marvel of sheer athleticism, reaching speeds over 240 mph! Today, peregrines can be glimpsed nesting under bridges in urban centers or flying up the Columbia Gorge, but the species wasn’t always thriving. DDT poisoning impacted their ability to lay healthy eggs and by the 1970s only a few hundred remained in the wild. To save the species, action had to be taken, and quickly.
Luckily, the peregrine was one of the first species listed under the fledgling Endangered Species Act in 1973 and now this magnificent bird has made a dramatic comeback!
