Peregrine Falcons -- Urban Birds of Prey

One of an urban-dweller's only defenses against the hordes of pigeons which can be hazardous to hair and hats, is the peregrine falcon. You may have heard the phrase, "She Stoops to Conquer" -- which comes from the term for a falcon's bullet-like dive to break the neck of a bird flying below it.

I learned recently about George and Gracie, a peregrine falcon pair that has been nesting on top of the PG&E building near the foot of Market Street in San Francisco. There's even a webcam on their nest: http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/index.htm


Here's George.

-- Rachel