Spirit Messengers
"The wind is the corporeal element most akin to the divine."-Socrates, Phaedrus
Photography: Todd Meier
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Our fascination with raptors travels as far back as Egyptian mythology with Horus, the god of the sky and of light, who was regularly depicted as a falcon. Ancient myths have held eagles, hawks and falcons as creator gods associated with sun and fire and as messengers between heaven and earth, between gods and humans. They captivate and repel, inspire and rouse us with a mystique that reaches well beyond the mythical.
Clocked at speeds of 242 mph, Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal alive, capable of folding their wings in a precise dive posture that literally slices the air in two. Many raptors feature special cone-shaped projections in the center of round nostrils to slow down the air flow and allow for incredibly fast flight without damaging the bird’s lungs.
There are 330 diurnal raptor species worldwide and 40 species found in North America. Many are territorial and solitary; some, hunt in family units. Some drop through the sky like daggers, others hover above unsuspecting prey. Still others stretch a foot out with lightning speed to catch insects from the air. All are unique and highly evolved for their specific habitat and prey. It is possible that the world they see is so vastly different and unique from ours that we simply cannot comprehend it in any logical manner. With the generous assistance of The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, the following is a portrait for future contemplation.
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| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus): Gus, Male Wingspan: 38-42 inches Length: 15-20 inches Weight: 1-3 pounds Life Span: 12 to 15 years in the wild Habitat/Range: Found on every continent, except Antarctica. Adaptable, with habitat ranging from tropics and deserts to the tundra. Story: Peregrines were placed on the U.S. Endangered Species List in 1970. They were completely wiped out in the Eastern United States and there were only 39 known pairs in the Western U.S. Thanks to the efforts of The Peregrine Fund, they were removed from the Endangered Species List on August 20, 1999. Known for their spectacular high-speed dives, Peregrine falcons typically capture prey in midair after fast pursuit or a rapid dive. The name (peregrinus) translates literally to wanderer, referring to the species-wide distribution. |
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