Peregrine falcons are well-known as birds of prey that can fly extremely fast and travel long distances.
Peregrines have been timed in stoops, or steep dives, at speeds of 200 miles per hour , according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
And the species Latin scientific name Falco peregrinus translates to “wanderer” in English. The bird is found on all continents except Antarctica.
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So there’s not much that surprises peregrine expert Greg Septon of Franklin when it comes to this bird that can fly as fast as an Indy car and travel the globe.
But with experience handling and banding 1,420 peregrines since 1986 when he founded the Wisconsin Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project, Septon has also learned to expect the unexpected.
Early 2024 delivered just such a surprise gift.
It’s contained in the tale of “Pete,” a female peregrine hatched and fledged in 2023 from a nest box at the We Energies plant in Port Washington.