The Fastest Bird on Earth

With dive speeds over 240 mph, peregrine falcons are the fastest birds on Earth. Massachusetts restoration efforts for the birds began in 1972 after years of damage from DDT. In the 1980s, young falcons were released in downtown Boston, and over 800 wild peregrine falcon chicks have since fledged. Historically, Bay State nesting sites—called eyries—were on rocky cliffs, but are now most frequently on tall man-made structures like buildings and bridges. Several cities and towns have buildings with consistent peregrine falcon nests: this magnificent raptor is a denizen of BU’s 26-story StuVi II. Photo by Cydney Scott