The Diving Falcon

Polly thought about the peregrine for two days. She wanted to feel the shape of its dive.

Polly memikirkan tentang elang peregrine selama dua hari. Dia ingin merasakan bentuk terjunannya.

On the third morning, she went to El Capitan. A peregrine was on a high rock. It was eating something.

Pada pagi ketiga, dia pergi ke El Capitan. Seekor elang peregrine berada di atas batu tinggi. Ia sedang makan sesuatu.

She perched on a bush fifty metres away. She waited.

Polly bertengger di semak-semak lima puluh meter jauhnya. Dia menunggu.

The peregrine finished its meal. It looked at her. Then it stepped off the rock.

Elang peregrine menyelesaikan makanannya. Ia melihat ke arahnya. Lalu ia melangkah dari batu itu.

It did not flap. It folded its wings tight. It dropped fast. It pulled out, turned, and was gone.

Ia tidak mengepakkan sayap. Ia melipat sayapnya erat-erat. Ia jatuh cepat. Ia menarik keluar, berbelok, dan menghilang.

A peregrine falcon can dive at 380 kilometres per hour. It is the fastest animal in the world. The bird has a special third eyelid. It also has small cones in its nose to slow the air.

Elang peregrine bisa menyelam dengan kecepatan 380 kilometer per jam. Ini adalah hewan tercepat di dunia. Burung ini memiliki kelopak mata ketiga yang khusus. Ia juga memiliki kerucut kecil di hidungnya untuk memperlambat udara.

Polly is not made for this dive. But she wanted to try.

Polly tidak dibuat untuk terjunan ini. Tapi dia ingin mencoba.

She flew to the high rock. She folded her wings. She fell.

Dia terbang ke batu tinggi. Dia melipat sayapnya. Dia jatuh.

It was not a good dive. She wobbled. The wind caught her wing. She opened her wings and pulled out.

Itu bukan terjunan yang baik. Dia goyah. Angin menangkap sayapnya. Dia membuka sayapnya dan menarik keluar.

She tried again from lower. Then again, lower still. By noon she had tried eight times. Each one was a little better.

Dia mencoba lagi dari tempat yang lebih rendah. Lalu lagi, lebih rendah lagi. Menjelang siang, dia sudah mencoba delapan kali. Setiap kali sedikit lebih baik.