An injured peregrine falcon was rescued after being discovered stranded on rocks near Berry Head’s cliffs by Brixham fisherman Tristan Northway. The falcon, described as waterlogged with visible injuries, was taken to the Cove Discovery Project in Brixham, Devon, where Duncan Kenny, a licensed peregrine ringer, noted that the year-old bird may have been attacked by a dominant female peregrine or fulmars before becoming waterlogged. The rehabilitation team from Devon Peregrines observed that, aside from superficial injuries, damaged feathers, and being waterlogged, the bird appeared to be in good condition overall.
Kenny explained that peregrine falcons are particularly vulnerable when wet due to their non-oily feathers, which cause them to become waterlogged and unable to recover if trapped in water. The presence of oil on the falcon’s back suggested prior interaction with fulmars, which defend their nests by spitting a foul-smelling oil. If the falcon recovers without complications, the Devon Peregrines team hopes to release it back into the wild. The article also notes that peregrine falcons, now a protected species, experienced a significant population decline in the 1960s due to human persecution and pesticide exposure, and they are capable of reaching speeds of about 200 mph (322 km/h) when pursuing prey, making them the fastest creatures on the planet. Source