Summary Response #1

Mohammed
EAp2
Summary and Response #1
10/22/2008

Peregrine Falcon is in Danger

According to Marla Cone in her (2008) article, “A new toxic threat to bird of prey," the peregrine falcon is in danger of extinction due to pesticides. These dangerous chemicals are found in high concentrations in the urban areas where the Falcon is living. In addition, many studies have found the same chemical in the breast milk of women in this area of California. In addition, this is not only dangerous for the falcon but also can hurt humans. Furthermore, scientists believe that these toxic substances are used in electronics and move through the dust of house into the air, then to the urban pigeons on the streets, which are then eaten by falcons. The study discovered that the eggs of urban falcon are composed of higher levels of chemicals than these in rural inland and coastal areas. The writer also explained that children are more susceptible to injury than adults are, because they are playing in the dust-infested streets. In the end of the article, the author hinted at the importance of preventing the increase of toxic substances in California, and she wrote about the prohibition of certain harmful substances used in electronics.

The dangers that threaten the Peregrine Falcon are taking many forms, such as environmental pollution, overhunting, and poisoning, of the falcons. Obviously, the birds cannot avoid these things by themselves.

First, environmental problems are very different depending on the atmosphere, for example, a tropical climate; it is rainy throughout the year, which causes floods that cover the land, forcing the birds to migrate looking for safer areas. Another climate such as the desert climate is very hot, and there is neither water, nor foods. Therefore, there is no vegetation in which the birds can find food. In this case the birds try to change their places in search of survival. In the frozen area, the global warming is melting the ice, which is causing many changes in the environment; birds might move to dry regions. These are simple examples that explained how the environmental problems contribute to hurting the birds or even human lives.

Second, we know there are many people who desire to hunt the falcons! They usually do that for many reasons, for instance, using it for hunting other birds, or selling it to the people who are able to teach it in the falconry; this trade is common in the Arab Gulf countries, especially in Saudi Arabia, and we aren’t surprised of that, if we know the cost of peregrine falcon might be set from $20,000 to $70,000, and the highest record reached around $250,000 (Yasater, n.d.). People try many ways to catch it alive. Sometimes they put prey into nets then the falcon lands in the net and may get stuck in it. Many people in Saudi Arabia take this kind of hunting as a habit, and some of them use it as a sport. However, they might hurt the falcons, or force it to leave the country, and this is immoral and illegal in most countries including Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, in the United Kingdom, Mark Foster (2008, para.5) wrote, “According to the charity's Bird crime report, there were 1,190 reported incident relating to wild birds last year, an increase of more than 50 percent on the previous year's total of 726,” and one of these crimes is shooting; actually I don’t know why they are shooting the falcons. The governments should punish people who trying to hunt falcons or shoot them just for fun, or another fake reason, and they should regulate hunting operations if that is necessary.

Finally, another danger of the falcon is that it is accursed by industrial chemicals that spread worldwide; many of falcons were injured, or killed by the pesticide DDT, or another kind of industrial chemical. The problem is very complicated, because we cannot prevent factories from using some dangerous chemicals, because we do not have safe alternative resources. Although we can organize our lives by avoiding establishing new factories near wildlife areas, also we can create new falcon’s centers to breed birds in quality environments. Most chemical problems accrued among eggs, so we can make it under our protection. Moreover, the companies can help governments by innovating new safer materials that do not destroy the ecosystem, or pollute the atmosphere.

In conclusion, the life of Peregrine Falcons responds to all people; as a community, we can help the governments around the world to avoid using chemical contamination in our products or avoid selling chemicals; also we can prevent illegal hunting, and poisoning of the flame; if we do that we have contributed to giving the king of the sky- the Peregrine Falcon- his previous freedom.

REFERENCE

Cone, M. (2008 , May 9). A new toxic threat to bird of prey; the state’s peregrine falcons, once victims of DDT, again face a deadly contaminant: flame retardants. Retrieved October 16, 2008 from Lexis Nexis database

Foster, M. (2007, September 11) Region named and shamed in report into wild bird criminals. Retrieved October 16, 2008, from Lexis Nexis database.

Yasater.com. ( n.d.)the expensive falcon in the world. Retrieved October 22 2008,from http://www.yasater.com/ news.php%3fnewsid%30.