Full Spread
Watching from above as a wild Peregrine Falcon soars free, wings spread, tail feathers fanned, alula feathers deployed, is one of the greatest joys I have experienced in nature. And I always marvel at the how privileged we are to have this opportunity. After the species was extirpated from the eastern US, these cliffs were dormant for decades. Thanks to the banning of DDT as a pesticide and to falconers and Peregrine enthusiasts for their aggressive reintroduction program, they are coming back. Although still endangered, Peregrine Falcons like this female and her mate are gradually, naturally repopulating historic cliffs throughout the eastern US states. I feel so lucky that I get to watch. May 19, 2017
