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The sun rising over a South Texas grassland

finds a flock of sparrows, like these Casson sparrows were hearing,

perching atop a mesquite bush.

They're awaiting the sun's first warming rays.

Suddenly, the sparrows flee as a dark bird of prey races toward them, flying just above the ground at breakneck speed.

This time, the Sparrow's escape and their pursuer, an oplomado falcon, a lights to survey the landscape.

It's a truly handsome bird.

It's plumage a bold pattern of black, white, and rust.

Opplemato falcons were once widespread residents of the American Southwest,

but by the 1950s they'd disappeared entirely from the region.

Loss of habitat, loss of prey, and pesticides all played a role. But in the 1980s a group called the Peregrin Fund began breeding

captive oblimato falcons. Over the next 25 years, 1500 fledglings were set free in South Texas.

At the same time, conservation packs with private landowners

provided more than 2 million acres of habitat.

While work remains to ensure the bird's recovery, the handsome

oplomato Falcon appears to have regained a solid foothold in the American

Southwest. Birdnote gives you the sounds of birds every day,

and you get the sights as well when you follow us on Instagram,

at Bird Note Radio.