Photo above was made by Foek Chin Joe in Paramaribo in
December 2006 and the small one by Dominiek Plouvier in Suriname
(high in a dead tree) and the one below by Jan Hein Ribot at the
parc ornithologique in the Camargue, France.
The peregrine falcon is known for the speed with which it dives
on flying prey. It has been measured at above 200 km/hr. It folds
its wings to reach this speed and only speeds down at the last
moment to grab the bird (or bat) and maybe kill it by the impact.
In Suriname all kind of birds and bats, but around town
especially the pigeons, become its prey. They can be seen almost
everywhere in the world and below are some photos made by Raoul
Ribot of a bird near its nest in Southern Australia, who doesn't
like the visitor and performs a spectacular dive on the
photographer.
bird diving at the photographer.
bird near its nest in Southern Australia.
nesting in Australia
Observations of the peregrine falcon, mainly in the coastal
area. They are often seen sitting on high lookout posts. When I
lived in Suriname some twenty years ago, they were seen each year
on the high antennas in the cultuurtuin in Paramaribo, looking
for prey (birds and bats). When they catch a prey they go back to
their lookout with it to pick it. The remains of several bird and
bats can then be found on the ground below.
Nowadays the peregrine falcons are seen more often in Suriname
then twenty years ago, because the number of birds in North
America has grown considerably, by protection measures and an
other use of pesticides overthere. Now they can even be found
resting on the new bridge over the Suriname river.
Number of observations summed over each month of the peregrine falcon in Suriname. To guess from this figure the peregrine falcons pass Suriname on their way farther south especially from October to December, to return through Suriname in February to April (or they stay and hide away for a month after the fireworks of the new year :-)). They breed in Northern America.
| Distribution in Suriname (explanation) | |
| Coastal area |  |
| Savanna |  |
| Forests |  |
| Mountain forests | |
| Sipalawini savanna | |
Names:
BMore pictures of birds of index
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