The Maroons have a visitor.
Wildlife community page UP Wild spotted a peregrine falcon perched on one of the towers in the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City earlier this week, capturing the admiration and amusement of the school community and wild bird enthusiasts.
“Look who’s back,” the UP Wild page wrote on Facebook, announcing the migratory bird’s return to the 493-hectare campus.
“This Peregrine Falcon (/Falco peregrinus/) is one of our annual visitors from the north,” UP Wild wrote. “While here, this falcon enjoys a great vantage point on this tower to spot and hunt prey.”
“Known as the fastest bird in the world, it can perform rapid dives to surprise its prey, which includes other birds!”
“Peregrine falcons are migratory and we usually see them around this time of the year visiting the area,” according to Dr. Giovanni Tapang, College of Science dean, who took the photos of the falcon. Tapang is also a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines.
Tapang added that peregrine falcons usually originate in countries north of the Philippines such as Japan, China, and Taiwan.
Peregrine falcons are part of the several species of migratory birds that flock the country every year before winter. These birds, who mainly thrive in wetlands and forests, return to their northern habitats between March and April.
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