In the Field with Wildlife Biologist, Dan Varland

From 1949 to the 1970s, tons of DDT were discharged into ocean waters off the Southern California coast. Even now, decades later, California sea lions that have eaten pesticide-laden prey migrate north as far as British Columbia. Some die and wash up on the beaches of Washington State. There they become food for avian scavengers, including Bald Eagles, Common Ravens, Turkey Vultures, and occasionally, even a Peregrine Falcon.

Since 1995, biologist Dan Varland, Executive Director of Coastal Raptors, has been monitoring the health of raptors on the Washington Coast. He and his team of volunteers capture and band Peregrine Falcons, then attempt to recapture the banded birds once a year, in order to look for mercury and DDT and its metabolites in the birds' blood systems.

This juvenile female Peregrine Falcon was captured and banded on the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington on January 19, 2003. Dan calls her “V Over V," (V/V) for the visual identification band she wears on her left leg.