July 2 Peregrine Falcon

Look! It's the fastest animal above earth! Did you know? There are peregrine falcons in Madison, and they live on the smokestacks on the MG&E plant just east of the capitol on the isthmus. This is the second time I have seen these birds this year and this time both were very active. I assume it is a mating pair of falcons and I am not sure but it looks like they have a nesting box at the top of a platform near the middle of the four stacks. Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are indeed earth's fastest animal, flying at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour in a direct dive while hunting for their only prey, other birds. What does this mean for the daydreaming pigeon or mourning dove? Haha. Peregrines ball up their flexible feet and deliver a knockout blow to a bird in flight, then grab it out of midair and take it to the highest nearby perch (cliff, skyscraper, smokestack) and use its curved beak to tear and swallow. The name peregrine means wanderer, as this falcon can be found on every continent in the world. How lucky we are to have them right here in Madison.