We chose this photo of a peregrine falcon—a female, walking across the rail of a balcony in Chicago—to inspire hope on Endangered Species Day. Not every animal listed as endangered is doomed to extinction. Peregrine populations were decimated by the use of pesticides, such as DDT, in the mid-20th century. The chemicals accumulated in the birds’ bodies, causing weak eggshells and high mortality rates for chicks. But by the 1980s humans had learned the cause, reduced and eliminated the various chemicals, and helped the birds rebound with gusto.
It’s Endangered Species Day
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
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Meandering through Patagonia
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World Rainforest Day
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Jackie Robinson Day
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When science looks like magic
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Cheers! It’s National Wine Day
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Cosplay strongly encouraged
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Arches National Park, Utah
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Take the Stairs Day
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It s Teacher Appreciation Week
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From garden to table?
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Room at the top?
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From the mind of Frank Gehry
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World Lizard Day
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Darwin s Arch
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Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
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Join us in celebrating World Water Day
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Bringing the moon to Earth
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Ancient theater of Epidaurus, Greece
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Hispanic Heritage Month
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Veterans Day
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It s superb owl Sunday
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Travels to the Oregon deep
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Rocks on the move
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Seitan Limania Beach, Crete
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Lucian Blaga National Theater, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Fall color sweeps across the West
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Keep shining
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Tree of many colors
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Halfway Day