Words Like Locusts Flew From Her Fingers

Peregrine Falcons – Books – Sierra Club: “For thousands of years, humans have admired, even revered, the peregrine falcon for its hunting skill, its mastery of the skies, its riveting gaze. To ancient Egyptians, who sometimes mummified falcons, these creatures were sacred, occupying an important place in the culture’s pantheon. Humanity’s devotion to this marvelous raptor also spawned the art of falconry, as falconers and spectators stood awed at the peregrine’s ability to intercept another bird in midair at nearly 200 miles per hour. But the industrial age almost eliminated the falcon, as the widespread use of the pesticide DDT contaminated the bird’s food chain. Happily, in the twenty-five years since DDT was banned, the peregrine has come back from the brink of extinction; the effort to save the species stands as one of the great success stories of the environmental movement. Yet the pesticide is still used abroad, and other chemicals pose new, serious threats.”