Wildlife

Peregrine Falcon The Peregrine Falcon belongs to the order falconiformes and is a member of the family falconidae. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has been breeding them in Temagami for a number of years now at a site near the Fire tower. Falcons belong to a group of birds known as raptors, or birds of prey. Other raptors include owls, hawks, eagles, and vultures. The majority of these birds share some basic characteristics, most notably that they have large strong feet and sharp talons for holding on to their prey, and sharp hooked bills for tearing at flesh. They also often have excellent eyesight, and most are highly skilled fliers.

How to recognize a falcon:

Falcons can be distinguished by their long, pointed wings, and their medium to long but generally narrow tails. As a result, they have quick and powerful wingbeats and are much more agile than other raptors, but on the other hand they cannot soar as well as species with broader wings. Falcons are also unique among raptors in that they have a notched beak (which looks like a little tooth on the upper mandible) that they use to help them sever the spinal column of their prey.
Behaviourally, falcons differ from other raptors in a few ways. Most notably, they do not build their own nests. Rather, they use tree cavities, rock ledges, or stick nests built by other raptors. Also, when excited, falcons typically bob their heads and pump their tails up and down. Other raptors may also move their tail when excited, but tend to wag it from side to side instead.

Voice:

The Peregrine has a harsh resounding "kak-kak-kak-kak" call. Both sexes give the same call, but males tend to sound somewhat wheezy and high-pitched, while females are more grating and coarse sounding. This call is usually given as a response to disturbance. A much softer "ee-chup" vocalizaton is given during courtship, and when birds are together at the nest. Young Peregrines have a higher pitched, more whiny quality to their call, and often vocalize persistently, especially when trying to attract an adult's attention.

Flight:

A Peregrine in steady flight has shallow but powerful wingstrokes, similar to that of a Cormorant. When in active pursuit, the wingstrokes become deeper. When Peregrines soar, they hold their wings flat and fan out their tail fully, making it appear diamond-shaped. While soaring, their wings are fully extended, and the wingtips appear broad and rounded, in contrast to their normally sharp-pointed appearance. In a dive (known as a stoop) the wings are folded in close to the body.

Further information can be found at http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca