A rare visitor has been sighted in the skies over downtown Bangor recently, and the stealthy specter has the city’s pigeon population justifiably on edge.

Several downtown residents and workers say they have spotted peregrine falcons hunting pigeons repeatedly in recent months in the area of Pickering Square. The peregrine breeding population is listed as “endangered” under Maine’s list of endangered and threatened species.

Bob Brody, who lives in a downtown building, said he first noticed a peregrine hunting in the square on Christmas Day and spotted the bird fairly regularly up until about two weeks ago. The arrival of the bird – or birds – quickly sends the resident pigeons into a panic.

“He comes around 7:15 in the morning and plays with the pigeons for a while,” said Brody, a casual bird-watcher. “I think he enjoys chasing them.”

Although one of the most widely dispersed birds in the world, peregrines were wiped out of the eastern United States by about 1970 because of the use of the pesticide DDT. Biologists have managed to restore the birds in much of their former range, but the peregrine’s recovery has proceeded much more slowly than that of the widely celebrated bald eagle.

There were 19 known breeding pairs of peregrines in Maine last year, compared to nearly 430 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the state.

Measuring a little more than a foot to 19 inches, peregrines are smaller than eagles. But they more than make up for their size in speed and agility.

The peregrine is one of the fastest creatures on earth, hitting speeds of up to 200 mph during its characteristic dive bomb while hunting. The birds can achieve nearly 70 mph during direct flight while pursuing prey, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The combination of speed and a taste for pigeon meat make the peregrine a fearsome urban hunter.

Tony Sohns, natural history educator with the Maine Discovery Museum in downtown Bangor, estimates he’s seen peregrines hunting in the area of Pickering Square at least 10 times since the summer.

“It’s an awesome thing to see all of the pigeons take off and then, out of nowhere, comes the bird and BOOM!” said Sohns, describing the way the peregrine slams into its prey in midair. The unlucky pigeon then falls to the ground and is quickly followed by the peregrine that finishes off its victim with a bite through the neck.

Brody and Sohns said they occasionally find whole pigeon wings while walking through downtown. Sohns has managed to incorporate such discoveries into his lessons at the Discovery Museum.

“I tell them, ‘Well, there is a peregrine hunting downtown,'” Sohns said. “The kids get a real kick out of that.”

Peregrines periodically pass through Bangor and occasionally spend time in the city, although it is more unusual to see them this time of year, said Charlie Todd, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

But there has never been a breeding population of peregrines in the city, Todd said. Adult peregrines tend to be more sedentary, so Todd said he hopes frequent sightings mean the birds are trying to settle in or near the city.

“We always welcome sightings,” Todd said.

Peregrines are currently or have nested in Boston, New York and several other major cities.

Last year was a rather dismal one for Maine’s small peregrine population. None of the 19 nests managed to produce young, due in large part to the severe storms in late winter and early spring.

kmiller@bangordailynews.net

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