Each spring the fastest bird in the world, the Peregrine falcon, nests in a man-made box on a ledge on the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg, PA, and each year a series of cameras records the progress of the chicks and all the goings-on in the eyrie.
The falcon had been on the brink of extirpation in North America due to the accumulation of pesticides in their bodies which caused them to produce thin-shelled eggs which broke prematurely in the nest. But
since the 1970s the bird has made an impressive comeback due to the banning of the pesticides and the help of wildlife biologists who've done a marvelous job of managing these magnificent raptors.
The Peregrine can dive on prey at up to 200 mph and hits its target so hard that, if it doesn't grab it, it knocks it out of the air.
The Harrisburg Peregrine pair currently has four young and can be observed via the falcon cams here. If you're lucky when you tune in you might see the adults feeding the voracious nestlings. These young birds are still a couple of weeks away from venturing their first flight.
Meanwhile, the following video provides some interesting information on the Peregrine, although if you don't like seeing violence in nature perhaps you ought not watch it.
