World’s Fastest Animal
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Peregrine Falcons at Smugglers’ Notch
Georges Lignier
peregrine falcon soars high over
Smugglers’ Notch. Spotting a
blue jay flying below, the falcon folds its
wings and plummets like an arrow. In
an explosion of feathers, the peregrine
snatches the jay from the air and returns
to its nest in the cliffs.
Peregrines nest on cliff ledges,
where they scrape a hollow in
sand or soil.
FORESTS, PARKS & RECREATION
SMUGGLERS' NOTCH
S TAT E PA R K
Dennis Jarvis
Peregrine falcons eat birds,
using their great speed to
catch their prey in flight.
You can identify the peregrine falcon by its black hood and pointed wings.
Vermont Center for EcoStudies
In 1982, biologists began the painstaking task of
reintroducing peregrines to Vermont. Because of
this successful effort, peregrine falcons now nest
throughout Vermont. Though still uncommon, they
are no longer imperiled.
Big Stock Photo
Capable of reaching speeds approaching 200
miles per hour while diving, peregrine falcons are
the fastest animals on earth. But by the late 1960s,
these remarkable birds had vanished from the
eastern United States. The pesticide DDT, heavily
used after World War II, caused the falcons to lay
thin-shelled eggs, which broke easily.
How You Can Help Peregrines
Since the mid-1990s, peregrine falcons have
nested in the cliffs of Smugglers’ Notch.
Nesting peregrines are easily disturbed
by humans and may abandon their nest if
people hike or climb nearby.
You can help ensure successful nesting by
staying at least ¼-mile away from nest sites.
Please respect area closure signs, which
indicate that falcons are nesting nearby,
usually from early April through August.