Peregrine falcon chicks to be seen soon at Torrey Pines State Beach
Peregrine falcons have returned to Torrey Pines State Beach for their annual nesting season.
Dredging to take place in Oceanside Harbor through Memorial Day
The state park said that the Peregrine falcon chicks had yet to hatch as of April 2, but it noted that the parents were displaying behaviors that showed they were awaiting the arrival of chicks.
Peregrine falcons begin nesting in San Diego County around February and lay three to four eggs at a time, which take around 29 to 32 days to hatch, according to the US Forest Service. Once hatched, the chicks, known as eyases, stay in the nest for 35 to 42 days before taking off on their first flight, which is typically by June or July.
Sea Cliff Park in Del Mar closing for over a year due to bluff stabilization work
The US Forest Service says Peregrines are one of San Diego County's scarcest breeding birds, with a population of about 15 pairs.
Peregrine falcons are the fastest birds in the world, reaching speeds over 240 mph when diving for prey.
The birds of prey were once endangered from the widespread use of pesticides like DDT. Now, Peregrine falcons are thriving in coastal regions, urban landscapes, and remote wilderness areas.
Sick sea lion rescued from busy road near Carlsbad beaches
Visitors at Torrey Pines State Beach, which is located north of La Jolla and south of Del Mar in San Diego County, are encouraged to bring binoculars to view the falcon nests that are up in the cliffs. The birds should be observed from a distance as too much disturbance from human activities can force falcons to abandon their eggs or chicks.
The falcons return to the area every year as it is an ideal habitat for them, with cliffs for nesting and an abundant food supply, including shorebirds and small mammals, according to the Forest Service.
Birdwatchers in San Diego County can also watch Golden Eagles year-round at the Ramona grasslands area near the Ramona airport and Prairie Falcons in the San Diego River Gorge near the San Diego Country Estates and Cedar Creek Falls.
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