Able to dive at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour in pursuit of prey, the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet. While it is common knowledge that peregrines are fierce hunters, many people are unaware that they also scavenge for food similar to turkey vultures and gulls.

Dan Varland, executive director of Coastal Raptors, and colleagues have documented this behavior regularly during more than 30 years of raptor surveys on Washington’s coastal beaches.

On Thursday Jan. 19, Varland will be the next speaker in the Glimpses Lecture Series to benefit the Coastal Interpretive Center. His lecture will be, “The Peregrine Falcon – Hunter and Scavenger.” Dan will share photos of peregrine scavenging and discuss the unique qualities of the Pacific Northwest coast that make scavenging advantageous to Peregrine Falcons.

Sponsored by Oyhut Bay, the lecture will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Home Port Restaurant Banquet Room, 857 Point Brown Ave. NW. Tickets are $8 at the door.