Our annual Peregrine Falcon visitor has returned to the Manila Observatory

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Ateneo Wild confirmed that our annual visitor, a Peregrine Falcon (𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴), is back at its usual rest spot at the communication towers behind the Manila Observatory. While there is a resident race of this species (𝘍. 𝘱. 𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪), this one is a winter visitor (𝘍. 𝘱. 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘴), identified by its white "ear" (compared to the resident which has a solid black "helmet" pattern). We have regularly recorded its arrival every October since 2011, making this at least the 14th straight year that our campus has hosted this charismatic bird of prey. The Peregrine Falcon, locally called Limbas, is the fastest animal on the planet, and can reach speeds of over 300 kph when diving for prey! On campus, one of its most common prey is the domestic pigeon or rock dove. It is just at home in the tall structures of urban areas as it is in the mountainsides and cliffs.  

During the harsh winters of their breeding grounds in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, migrants fly south to our country, using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) - a route that stretches from the Arctic Circle down to Australia and New Zealand, and is used not only by birds of prey, but also by songbirds and waterbirds! So far our campus inventory has 26 migrant bird species listed, including the Peregrine Falcon.

We're happy to get the chance to see the falcon resting on the tower, despite the constant mobbing it receives from the resident Philippine Jungle Crows. We hope to see it regularly until it's time for it to fly back north at the onset of spring!