By the 1960s, the use of pesticides like DDT led to the local extinction of peregrine falcons in the Eastern United States, and the species was listed as endangered in 1970. A ban on DDT in 1972 combined with captive breeding and reintroduction efforts led to the remarkable success story as the falcon saw its historic U.S. range restored and was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1999.
This elegant bird is impressive not just for being the fastest animal in the world – capable of diving over 200 mph – but also for the immense distance it’s known to travel. With a name that means “wandering falcon,” some in the species make a 20,000-mile round-trip migration from the Arctic to nearly Antartica.
Fortunately for those of us local to Greater New Jersey Metropolitan Area, there is a pair of peregrines that live on the cliffs of the Hudson Palisades year-round: “Una” and “Prince.”
A great place to observe these beautiful birds is at the State Line Lookout area of Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine, New Jersey – the site of the State Line Hawk Watch. At an elevation of 527 feet above the Hudson River, State Line Lookout is the highest part of the Hudson Palisades in New Jersey with dramatic views over the river.
On a recent visit, the resident female “Una” decided to perch on a branch right next to the lookout point.
For the next 53 minutes – yes, I counted – she sat there on the perch and stretched, preened, and occasionally called out.
I also captured Una observing a yellowjacket that was flying near her talons.
Una must have eaten earlier and needed to regurgitate the undigested feathers and bones of an unlucky bird because for much of the time, she repeatedly tried to cough up a pellet.
If she succeeded in coughing up the pellet, I didn’t see it, however I did catch her pooping.
For perched raptors, pooping is often a signal that they’re about to take flight (and to get your trigger finger ready on the camera). And sure enough, soon Una was airborne, perhaps looking for her next meal.
