The Bird That Warned Us: teacher key

Peregrine Falcons, grade 12 edition, written for 12th grade and up. Studying peregrine falcons helped scientists see what DDT was doing. Follow the long recovery, the monitoring that still goes on and what a peregrine's year looks like.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What did studying peregrines in the 1970s lead scientists to discover?
   • A new bird species
   • The environmental dangers of DDT (answer)
   • A way to fly faster
2. How many years must the Fish and Wildlife Service monitor a species after delisting?
   • At least 50
   • At least 500
   • At least 5 (answer)
3. Why do falcons nearer the equator tend not to migrate?
   • Year-round prey means no reason to leave (answer)
   • Their wings are shorter
   • They fear cold
4. What did the 1999 delisting rule add because of wintering peregrines?
   • A new nest design
   • A contaminant monitoring plan (answer)
   • A hunting season
5. Why did Peregrine Fund biologists take blood samples on South Padre Island?
   • To count eggs
   • To measure speed
   • To look for signs of oil exposure (answer)
6. What does colonized mean for urban areas?
   • Moved into and settled (answer)
   • Left behind
   • Built

Words

• DDT: a pesticide
• delisting: taking off list
• incubation: egg sitting
• contaminant: harmful substance
• colonized: moved into