includes vultures, kites, hawks, eagles, and falcons. Other than vultures, all of these birds

hunt and kill other animals for food. Falconiformes are equipped with hooked beaks and

strong talons, making them excellent predators. All Falconiformes are daytime hunters.

The peregrine falcon is the best-known of the fifty-eight birds in the falcon family. The

word Peregrine comes from a word that means, "one who wanders." This falcon has

definitely earned its name. For example, some of Canada's tundra peregrines fly to Brazil

Peregrine falcons are found in every single part of the world except Antarctica. They were

once trained by kings to hunt and bring back kills. This sport, called Falconry, is still

popular. However, in the 1960s the American falcon came close to extinction. Most of the

damage was done by poisons that farmers used to kill insects. The worst poison was DDT.

By the time naturalists learned

usually kills the prey instantly. If the prey is still alive, the peregrine uses its strong,

the bird somehow remembers the look of nearby fields, woods, and rivers. Peregrines are

is coming back from extinction!

Some fly to Florida and Central America. Others travel all the way to Brazil. American

it is hunting. Around its own nest, a peregrine makes a number of calls. To attract a mate,

times as far as a human.

The American peregrine's scientific name is Falco peregrinus anatum. At one time, people

made good nests. Meng and other falconers donated birds of mating age. Cade also

nest, although on some occasions their nest may be gone or they followed their prey into a

only two-thirds the size of his mate. Therefore, a typical tiercel weighs only one and

peregrines. They fed them for a while, but the falcons soon learned to hunt on their own.

less affected by the poisons. They can still be found in many of their northern and western

their first year of life, however. Even without DDT, the peregrine's habitat holds many

is wide and strong. This gives the falcon the lift it needs to carry a heavy kill. In level flight,

the smaller birds south, the peregrines join the migration. Cold weather doesn't seem to

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1792
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)