Peregrine falcons have a record year in NY

Peregrine falcons are flourishing on the cliffs, bridges and skyscrapers of New York state, four decades after pesticides eliminated the sky-diving predators from the eastern United States.

Pete Grannis, commissioner of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, says 2008 was a record-setting year for peregrine falcons in the state. A new report released Thursday documents 67 territorial pairs of peregrines in the state in 2008 and 130 hatchlings from 60 breeding pairs.

Although the birds remain on New York's endangered species list, the state has the largest population in the East.

Peregrine falcons feed mainly on other birds and can dive at more than 200 miles per hour in pursuit of prey.

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