EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Two on a Cliff

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Family Falconidae
Oregon USA

Explanation:  Paired up for another breeding season is this ... pair ... of Peregrine Falcons.  

This is an iconic scene, with these birds again selecting a sheer cliff face for its nest and roost sites.  Did you quickly spot each bird in this scene?  

Cliffs are a preferred environment for the falcons, although in some urban environments, the birds may also use high, isolated structures and substrates, such as bridges and tall buildings.  

The cliff helps protect the eggs and, eventually, the hatchlings and nestlings, from terrestrial predators, be they coyotes, skunks, and other hungry marauders.  

And to help protect such sites from curious humans, I will not reveal its specific location.  

May the birds nest in peace, and help foster yet another generation of these astounding fliers.  

 
Acknowledgment:
     My thanks and gratitude to biologist Jim Harper, who deserves major accolades and appreciation for his decades of surveying and monitoring nesting sites of falcons, eagles, and much more.  Thank you, Jim, for allowing me to accompany you on this survey outing, and for all you do to help protect our wildlife legacy!