FIELD DIARY: Patrolling Peregrines on Site with Zeka Glucs

The California coast is witnessing a silent crash in peregrine falcons that threatens to outpace the devastating legacy of DDT. In this guest-hosted episode, Zeka Glucs, Director of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group leads us into the field to track the invisible killer: bird flu. From the studio to the windswept bluffs of Devil's Slide, we witness the frontlines of an ecological battle against a virus these apex predators simply can't outfly. As Zeka's team monitors this unfolding crisis, we’re forced to confront the fragility of a recovery we once thought was permanent. We’re left to wonder: can these icons survive a second near-extinction, or are we witnessing the final flight of the peregrine on the Santa Cruz coast?Predatory Bird Research Group & Nest Cams👉 https://predatorybirdresearch.sites.ucsc.edu/nest-cams/ Volunteer Opportunities👉 www.californiaperegrines.org/ 02:04 - Zeka Glucs' Journey into Bird Research03:33 - Impact of DDT on Raptors10:14 - Recovery Success Story16:26 - Captive Breeding Strategies26:34 - Threat of Bird Flu35:24 - In the Field: Research Expedition50:00 - Conservation and Community Involvement52:05 - Finding Optimism Amidst Challenges