As one of the Peregrine's prime nesting localities worldwide is sea-cliffs
it's not surprising that there are so many reports of pelagic Peregrines. In
calm weather I should think that the sea can hold few terrors for these
falcons, after all, how often do they have to alight when they're flying
over the land? and in any case if lost they can just ascend until they are
high enough to see the nearest land.
In the Mediterranean there is a close relative of the Peregrine, Elenora's
Falcon, which, as far as I understand its life-style (I've never seen it,
unfortunately), lives almost exclusively on sea-cliffs, and breeds very late
in the year so that it can feed its young on migrating swallows and martins.
But it must also feeds on sea-birds at other times of the year and is no
doubt just as pelagic, if not more so, than Falco peregrinus.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Dr John Leonard
PO Box 243, Woden,
ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA
" Old pond,
leap-splash?
a frog. " Basho
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
|
