The Mutual of Omaha headquarters building has been home to peregrine falcons since the 90s. We’ve been lucky enough to see eggs hatch throughout the years, and we’re excited to say that they’re back again! To celebrate, here are a few fun fast facts about peregrine falcons from Wild Kingdom host and wildlife expert, Peter Gros.
- They have been clocked with a radar gun in a dive, also known as the stoop, at speeds of over 200 miles an hour.
- There’s a special twisting structure within their beak so they can still breathe when diving at those speeds.
- They’re also known as a Duckhawk and will frequently spread their wings slightly to slow down just before hitting a duck in mid-flight. The average duck can weigh 3 to 4 pounds.
- After laying their eggs in the wild, if the first “clutch” doesn’t hatch or gets stolen by predators, the falcons will then lay a second group of eggs. It’s called double clutching, nature’s way to ensure the species survival.
- The male will also return to the nest to bring food back for the female to feed their young and aid in the rearing of the chicks.
- They’re very protective from other predators like owls who get near their nest and will scream and dive on them to drive them away.
Update on May 18, 2022
We have babies! Four peregrine falcon chicks have recently hatched in the nesting box on the side of the Mutual of Omaha headquarters building.
Update on May 23, 2022
The peregrine falcon parents have been spotted soaring around the building.
