The Diving Falcon

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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