Portland’s peregrine falcons are a conservation win

We have an important message that was waiting in the wings. Peregrine falcons — seen here moving at 0 mph on Portland’s Interstate Bridge — can reach a top speed of 240 mph while diving.

When Portland Audubon Conservation Director Bob Sallinger started tracking their numbers in the area nearly three decades ago, they were highly endangered and not a single nest existed. Now thanks to the Endangered Species Act and banding projects, their numbers have soared , with several families calling our city’s bridges home.