The Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon has the characteristic of habit of perching on rocks and appears to love the loftiest and most craggy cliffs.  It makes its nest in spots which are virtually inaccessible to man, and could only be reached by a bold and experienced climber.
 
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon picture

The nests of this bird are never built in close proximity, the Peregrine preferring to have its home at least a mile from the nest of any other of its kinsfolk. Sometimes it makes a nest in lofty trees, taking possession of the deserted home of some other bird; but it loves cliffs better than trees, and seldom builds in the latter when the former is attainable.

 In his 'Land of Israel,' 19th century scholar H.B. Tristram gives several notices of this bird, from which we may build an interesting picture from a description of a scene at Endor. 'Dreary and desolate looked the plain, though of exuberant fertility. Here and there might be seen a small flock of sheep or herd of cattle, tended by three or four mounted villagers, armed with their long firelocks, and pistols and swords, on the watch against any small party of marauding cattle-lifters.

'Griffon vultures were wheeling in circles far over the rounded top of Tabor; and here and there an eagle was soaring beneath them in search of food, but at a most inconvenient distance from our guns. Hariers were sweeping more rapidly.and closely over the ground, where lambs appeared to be their only prey; and a noble peregrine falcon, which in Central Palestine does not give place to the more eastern lanner, was perched on an isolated rock, calmly surveying the scene, and permitting us to approach and scrutinize him at our leisure.'
 

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