Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
The Peregrine, the fastest bird in the world, has made a remarkable recovery over the past 30 years. As the species re-establishes itself around the world it is becoming a familiar sight in towns and cities.
This beautifully illustrated book is the first in-depth focus on the lives of Peregrines in towns and cities. In words and stunning photographs, Ed Drewitt reveals the latest information on Peregrine behavior including how they are adapting to, and taking advantage of, the urban environment.
The book is also a how-to-guide, with information on finding peregrines, studying their diet, ringing individuals for research, putting up nest boxes and enabling people to learn more about them through public viewing points or web cameras.
Ed also discusses what makes a Peregrine urban, their contemporary relationship with people, and helps dispel some myths and reveal some truths about this agile predator.
Ed Drewitt is a professional naturalist, wildlife detective, and broadcaster for the BBC. He has been studying urban Peregrines for over 15 years, and specialises in colour ringing their chicks, and identifying what they have been eating.
A fascinating insight into the life of our top urban predator.
Stephen Moss
Peregrines! The biggest urban conservation story to hit our cities is gloriously revealed in this wonderful book.
Mike Dilger
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| About the author | 7 | ||
| Foreword | 9 | ||
| Preface | 11 | ||
| Why write a book about urban Peregrines? | 209 | ||
| The Peregrine | 2 | ||
| The Peregrine | 6 | ||
| Why is the Peregrine found worldwide, while other similar speciesare not? | 9 | ||
| What makes the Peregrine so successful in urban places? | 11 | ||
| Facial features and skull | 12 | ||
| What does a Peregrine see? | 15 | ||
| Seeing colours | 17 | ||
| Nictitating membrane | 19 | ||
| Taste and smell | 19 | ||
| Magnetoreception | 20 | ||
| How fast is the Peregrine? | 20 | ||
| Peregrine's size | 23 | ||
| Sexual dimporphism | 24 | ||
| Moult and preening | 25 | ||
| Leg colour | 29 | ||
| Age | 33 | ||
| What is an Urban Peregrine? | 34 | ||
| How to Spot a Peregrine | 42 | ||
| When is a good time of the year to spot Peregrines? | 46 | ||
| What to do if you find a Peregrine | 47 | ||
| A Year in the Life of an Urban Peregrine | 49 | ||
| Late summer | 50 | ||
| Autumn and winter | 50 | ||
| How many Peregrines visit urban sites? | 50 | ||
| In the North | 52 | ||
| Preparing to breed | 53 | ||
| Spring and early summer | 55 | ||
| Cooperative breeding | 67 | ||
| Peregrines as cooperative breeders | 68 | ||
| Extra-pair copulations | 73 | ||
| Polygyny | 73 | ||
| Inbreeding | 74 | ||
| Food and Feeding | 76 | ||
| What is their success rate? | 77 | ||
| How do Peregrines catch their prey? | 81 | ||
| What do Peregrines eat? | 82 | ||
| What are the common prey items? | 82 | ||
| Pigeons | 83 | ||
| Starlings | 84 | ||
| Woodland, garden and farmland birds | 86 | ||
| Wading birds | 87 | ||
| Seabirds | 88 | ||
| Gulls | 89 | ||
| Corvids | 90 | ||
| Other raptors | 90 | ||
| Caged and escaped birds | 91 | ||
| River birds and waterbirds | 91 | ||
| Hirundines and swifts | 93 | ||
| Bats | 93 | ||
| Ringed birds | 94 | ||
| Nocturnal hunting | 95 | ||
| Attacking other birds, and being attacked | 102 | ||
| How to Study Peregrines | 105 | ||
| Studying the diet of urban Peregrines | 105 | ||
| How do you know if the feather has been plucked by a Peregrine or simplybeen moulted? | 109 | ||
| How do you know if the feathers are not from a Sparrowhawk kill? | 110 | ||
| A step-by-step guide to collectingand sorting prey remains | 111 | ||
| Peregrine feathers | 115 | ||
| Providing a nest box | 116 | ||
| The Internet and web cameras | 118 | ||
| Some further questions and thoughts to consider | 121 | ||
| Setting up a peregrine watch | 121 | ||
| Key things to consider | 122 | ||
| Liaising with landowners and stakeholders involved with Peregrines | 124 | ||
| Top tips | 124 | ||
| Risk assessments | 125 | ||
| Ringing Urban Peregrines | 126 | ||
| Tips for ringing Peregrines | 129 | ||
| Key things to remember when ringing Peregrines | 133 | ||
| Involving the media | 134 | ||
| What does Peregrine ringing tell us about their movements? | 136 | ||
| Myths about Peregrines | 141 | ||
| Myth 1: Urban Peregrines just feed on pigeons | 141 | ||
| Myth 2: The bird killing the pigeons in my garden is a Peregrine | 142 | ||
| Myth 3: Is a Peregrine an eagle or a hawk? | 143 | ||
| Myth 4: Rather than catching prey on the fi rst hit, Peregrines giveit a glancing blow | 143 | ||
| Myth 5: Peregrines hover | 143 | ||
| Myth 6: Peregrines and Ravenslive in harmony | 144 | ||
| Myth 7: Peregrines eat big urban gulls and help control theirnumbers | 144 | ||
| Myth 8: Peregrines will controla population of pigeons | 145 | ||
| Changing Threats and the Future of the Urban Peregrine | 146 | ||
| The law | 148 | ||
| The story from the past | 149 | ||
| What’s the future for urban Peregrines? | 152 | ||
| London | 156 | ||
| Predator–prey dynamics | 158 | ||
| Wind turbines and power lines | 160 | ||
| Hybrids | 161 | ||
| Recreation | 162 | ||
| Other disturbances | 162 | ||
| People and Peregrines | 163 | ||
| The Racing Pigeon | 169 | ||
| Other conflicts | 173 | ||
| So how can these conflicts be resolved? | 175 | ||
| Looking out for the safety and welfare of urban Peregrines | 180 | ||
| Peregrines and children | 183 | ||
| Visiting schools | 185 | ||
| Messages to people | 186 | ||
| Where Next? | 188 | ||
| Web cameras | 191 | ||
| Organisations | 192 | ||
| Further reading | 194 | ||
| For children | 195 | ||
| Acknowledgements | 196 | ||
| Photographers | 197 | ||
| Index | 204 |