Bridge project presents opportunity to learn more about peregrine falcon
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is working around a bird that has taken up residence in one of the bridges it is working on in Armstrong County because the species was once listed as endangered.
The federally protected peregrine falcon is one of the fastest animals in the world, able to reach speeds of up to 200 mph when performing its terminal dive, according to Chris Kubiak, education director for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Despite its penchant for high velocity, the peregrine falcon is slowing the Graff Bridge project in Armstrong County.
While we could bemoan the need for construction to adjust for an animal that can literally soar over any road, we should focus on another aspect of this story.
Butler County has a bird expert with more than 30 years of experience working in our local parks.
Kubiak is a wealth of knowledge about wildlife, birds especially, who lent several facts about the peregrine falcon to the Butler Eagle’s reporting on the Graff Bridge project. Maybe you already knew the peregrine falcon is the fastest animal out there, but did you also know they live 10 to 15 years and primarily prey upon other birds, like pigeons? Or that they are daytime hunters and have black marks under their eyes to help reduce glare from the sun?
Those are some nice facts to know about an animal primarily famous only for its speed and there’s likely many more where those came from.
Kubiak is just one environmental educator that staffs parks, such as Succop and Buffalo Creek nature parks. They each have experts on staff who can share facts about animals and lead tours to uncover even more of their residents.
So take this opportunity to learn about some birds in our area. They won’t stop traffic for long.
— ET
