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By the second half of the 20th century, the majestic Peregrine Falcon was in serious danger
of extinction, mostly due to the presence in the food chain of the industrial chemical DDT, which weakened the
eggshells of Peregrines and other birds of prey. Thankfully, the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
opened the public's eyes to the crisis, and the chemical was banned, and organizations such as the Peregrine Fund implemented
a successful recovery program. One reason for the species' steady population growth has been its ability to adapt to urban areas- the skyscrapers
of large cities mimic the natural canyon nesting areas of the species, and abundant, introduced Rock Pigeons
provide easy prey for the powerful falcons (their dives have been clocked at well over 100 m.p.h.).
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