Often they will fly straight through thermals that transport other hawks on their long journey. The Peregrine is the swiftest of all falcons. Friday Just a few decades ago, peregrine falcons were nearly wiped out due to widespread use of DDT and other chemical compounds used in agriculture. The chemicals caused peregrine females to lay thin-shelled eggs that had little chance of hatching. Thankfully, the DDT ban in 1972 and breeding programs by biologists have brought this magnificent bird back from the brink of extinction.
Peregrines nest at the top of cliffs close to waterways where they hunt smaller birds.
Among other places in the twin state area, nesting pairs of peregrines can be seen at the Fairlee, Vermont, Pallisades and Osceola East Peak in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest. Well-known for their aerial acrobatics and incredible speed, these birds are also hardy migrators. Canadian researchers recently tracked a peregrine that traveled over 300 miles a day on its autumn trip from Alberta to Veracruz, Mexico.