Peregrine falcons were nearly extinct in California in the 1970s due to the pesticide DDT, with only two known nesting pairs remaining. Following a ban on DDT and decades of captive breeding programs by researchers, the population rebounded. Today, more than 400 breeding pairs thrive across the state. Wally DeYoung will share with us stories of the return of the peregrine falcons. 

Mr. DeYoung is a lifelong lover of all things wild. After almost 40 years as a banker, Wally went back to school after retiring and became a UC Certified Naturalist. He is a naturalist docent for both Mount Diablo State Park, as well as the East Bay Regional Parks District, leading hikes and monitoring the local population of Peregrine Falcons - the fastest animal on the planet! Wally is the past Outreach Director for the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, a regular natural history contributor to local newspapers, has been published in Bay Nature Magazine, is an award winning wildlife photographer and videographer. He has also launched a non-profit which provides nature photography at no cost to local natural history non-profits for their advertising, marketing and social media.

We will learn so much about peregrine falcons with Mr. DeYoung's beautiful videos. Join us.