Peregrine falcons become even deadlier Fla

[Donna]

The peregrine falcon, the world’s swiftest killer, has learned to use human technology to catch birds.

The falcons follow airboats through the Everglades and around Lake Okeechobee and pounce on birds flushed by the noisy, propeller-driven vehicles.

Paul Gray, a biologist with Audubon of Florida, says that on a recent airboat trip on the lake, a peregrine falcon trailed behind and attacked coots as they flew out of the boat’s way. It’s behavior he’s witnessed before, and this time he captured it on camera, in images that show the stalking falcon and a coot in its talons.

The peregrine falcon can hit 200 miles per hour in its famous hunting dive, in which it soars to a great height and then heels over like a dive bomber to hit its prey in mid-air with maximum force. In level flight, the falcon can reach 60 miles per hour, more than adequate to keep up with an airboat. “There’s a whole lot of coots on the lake right now,� Gray said. “The falcon would be right behind the boat at about 100 feet and when he decides to strike he’ll just pass you.�

The Sun Sentinel

[MAK]

This is soooo cool! 

[Annette]

 

[BIGFRANK]

Im not surprised at all,birds/animals adapt. I did 2 safaris in South Africa. Wilddogs learned to chase prey towards fences,Lions chased Giraffes across tar roads where the giraffes would slip and fall on the tar beacuse of their hooves,other predators hunt using vehicles for cover.
Even seeing our own Peregrine Falcons panic flight pigeons into smashing into glass balconies and catching them on the rebound.