Peregrine Falcons of the Diablo Region
Peregrine falcons live year-round in the Mount Diablo region. Most active during the annual nesting season (February through July), these apex predators can often be spotted in Pine Canyon, where they have nested for millennia.
Photos by Wally De Young
The nesting areas in Pine Canyon and Knobcone Point are closed to visitors from February 1st through July 31st every year to protect the birds. View Closure Notice
Photo by Wally De Young
Peregrine Team Update
2024-03-15
As of this date, we have a pair of peregrine falcons in each of the two nesting areas on Mount Diablo. They are still in the early stages of bonding and courtship, which includes flying together and chasing off any intruder birds who spend too much time in their territory. It also includes copulation, a sure sign that the birds are heeding Mother Nature’s call. These encounters are usually observed with greater frequency as the days go by leading up to egg-laying. The peregrines have also been seen checking out various nesting cavity options, but have not yet chosen that perfect spot to set up housekeeping. They are fortunate to have such prime (and protected) real estate in the Diablo Range.
About the Peregrines
Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on earth and can dive at speeds over 200 mph while hunting small to medium-sized birds in mid-air. Because their survival depends on this speed, even a small injury can be deadly. Only 20% of peregrines make it through the first year of life.
Team Training Day - by Dereck Love
About the Peregrine Team
MDIA's Peregrine Team, a natural history education group, was formed in 2015 to assist park rangers during the nesting closure season. P-Team volunteers tell visitors about the peregrines, their habitat, and the importance of respecting the closure zone. P-Teamers also monitor the status of the falcons throughout the nesting season. Its members hail from a wide variety of backgrounds and include birders, hikers, runners, bikers, and equestrians, all of them nature lovers dedicated to preserving the area for future generations of people, peregrines, and the land we all depend upon.
For more information, contact: peregrine.team@mdia.org
Photo by Dereck Love