Do you know a peregrine falcon can hit speeds as much as 200 mph? That quantity comes from the Guinness Guide of World Data, which gave the animal the title of the world’s quickest hen. Biologists estimate the utmost pace could possibly be even quicker—an unbelievable 240 mph. The animal hits its most pace whereas dive-bombing its prey.
Whereas the peregrine falcon on this Instagram video doesn’t hit most pace, it’s nonetheless superb to see its high-speed dive.
Wildlife photographer Tohid Azimi captured this video of a mom peregrine falcon deliberately dropping a chipmunk to assist her offspring discover ways to hunt within the air. Sadly, the younger hen misses the chipmunk, who’s clearly already having a horrible day. The mom hen rapidly turns and dive-bombs after the rodent and catches it.
Azimi says he shot this video and lots of others whereas filming peregrine falcons close to San Diego, CA, through the falcons’ nesting season.
In keeping with wildlife officers, this hen normally feeds on different birds, corresponding to songbirds, geese, and pigeons. So, the chipmunk within the video is a rarity however one thing a falcon might use to show its younger searching methods.
Peregrine falcons have been listed as endangered for years as a consequence of chemical compounds utilized by people. Natural pollution corresponding to DDT, an insecticide, trigger the animals’ eggs to skinny. Since environmentalists raised consciousness of the issue, the inhabitants of the world’s quickest hen has rebounded. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service eliminated peregrine falcons from the endangered species record in 1999.
