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:
-
In celebration of America’s national bird
-
Reflections of the night sky
-
Marseille welcomes the Olympic torch
-
International Day of Forests
-
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
-
Surf s always up in Paia
-
Denali National Park
-
A ‘Superior’ paddle
-
Joshua Tree National Park, California
-
Tulips, Netherlands
-
Surf s up—Down Under
-
In the Navajo Nation for Code Talkers Day
-
Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
-
National Bird Day
-
Seville, Spain
-
Autumn in Central Park, New York
-
World Laughter Day
-
Avatars of the Wolf Moon
-
Desert bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
-
There once was a lighthouse from...
-
Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California
-
Landscape Architecture Month
-
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
-
World Oceans Day
-
Celebrating Panama s independence
-
A peek behind the royal curtain
-
Mount Rainier National Park
-
National Park Week: Everglades National Park
-
Autumnal equinox
-
Class, please take out a No. 2 pencil…