September 2018 Photo-observation of the Month

Amazing capture of a Peregrine Falcon carrying a recently killed Blue Jay by Kyle Tansley. Click on the image to see the observation at iNaturalist.

Congratulations to Kyle Tansley for winning the September 2018 Vermont Atlas of Life iNaturalist photo-observation of the month. The images of a Peregrine Falcon carrying a recently killed Blue Jay was the most popular photo-observation.

When asked to name the fastest animal on earth, many people will respond “cheetah.” But it is the Peregrine Falcon – a cliff-dwelling raptor –that holds that title with the ability to reach speeds of 200+ MPH as they stoop in flight. Equally remarkable is the fact that this speed daemon of the skies was nearly wiped out 50 years ago; its recovery ranks among the great success stories of conservation biology and endangered species management. During the first Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas from 1976-1982 it was nowhere to be found. But 25 years later, the second atlas found it in 31 survey blocks around the state. Check the live Vermont eBird map and see where they’ve been seen recently near you and add your observations too! You can learn more about this amazing bird and its recovery on the VCE web site.

Visit iNaturalist Vermont, and you can vote for the winner this month by clicking ‘fav’ on your favorite photo-observation. Make sure you get outdoors and record the biodiversity around you, then submit your discoveries and you could be a winner!