Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon is a ubiquitous bird of prey that can be seen almost anywhere in the world. More than a thousand pairs nest in France, most of them sedentary. One of the world’s fastest and most agile animals, the peregrine feeds mainly on birds captured in flight. It can also take chicks directly from nests, for example on cliff-nesting seabird colonies. On the Channel and Atlantic coasts, pairs of peregrine falcons settle on cliffs close to colonies of seabirds such as black-legged kittiwakes and fulmars, providing them with a larder for part of the summer, when energy requirements are highest to feed their own young. Peregrine falcons have been seen hunting over the sea, particularly during the migratory passages of passerines, but there is little information on this behavior. Overall, little is known about the movements of peregrine falcons outside the breeding season.
Peregrine falcons are caught along the coast, close to their nesting sites, using vertical drop nets installed at the top of cliffs. As part of conservation projects, some nests have been fitted out for falcons, enabling the birds to be captured directly in the nest. They are equipped with 15g GPS beacons that transmit the birds’ geographical position and altitude live via the 4G network.