© victor m maldonado
Raptors
This pair of raptors take a break from hunting.
This is a tree I have been watching on my walks along the cliffs of the San Pedro & Palos Verdes Peninsula. These two raptors have made a home on top of a dead palm tree. Many years ago because of pestisides along the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California these majestic raptors were all but extinct. Since they eat ground animals & other birds which eat plants the raptors almost lost a fight to pesticides which made their eggs fragile. But they are beggining to make a comeback.
Peregrine falcons mate for life so it is common to see them in pairs hunting, flying and relaxing.
Taking a closer look at these raptors resting & perched you'll notice that the wings extend down to their tail feather tips a distinguishing feature.
Above, this raptor hovers looking down at the cliff sides below for its next meal. Peregrine falcons can hover in a state of absolute stillness & then stoop to over 200 miles per hour in a moment! Yes, they are the fastest flying birds.
In the background to the right is Santa Catalina Island.
— victor maldonado