Peregrine Falcons Can Really Fly

Although cheetahs and pronghorns are lightning quick, they can't touch the speed of peregrines, which have been clocked at more than 200 mph. To give you a little perspective, Tony Kanaan set an Indy 500 record this year with an average speed of 187.433 mph. Now you see me, now you don't.

A PORTFOLIO BY JOHN SHERMAN Photographer John Sherman happened upon a peregrine-falcon aerie while he was out rock-climbing. Here, an adult peregrine, clutching its family's next meal in its talons, returns to the aerie to feed its chicks, which Sherman estimates were a week old when he found them. Camera: Nikon D7000; Shutter: 1/1000 sec; Aperture: f/8; ISO: 1000; Focal Length: 500 mm

"What was I thinking?" asks photographer John Sherman. "It would have been so much easier shooting penguins than peregrines. After all, peregrines are the fastest animal on the planet - they've been clocked flying faster than 200 mph. With these peregrines, the parents cleverly picked an aerie in a small northwest-facing corner that was hidden from view from most angles (and predators), and I had my share of challenges. I erected a blind on the edge of the cliff - I stayed tied into a rope and harness when in the blind - but even so, I could only see the edge of the ledge. So I also constructed a camouflaged boom that I gradually inched out over the aerie over the course of a few days. Each day, I would slide a remote-controlled camera to the end of the boom, which enabled me to shoot 40 feet straight down on the nest. The parents are very protective and will attack you (or any other creature) if you violate their tolerance zone. This happened a couple of times early on, and I quickly learned when and how closely I could approach."

For more information about peregrine falcons and other raptors, contact The Peregrine Fund at 208-362-8687 or visit www.peregrinefund.org.