TOEFL Listening

🎧 Listening Transcript

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today we're going to talk about a fascinating example of urban wildlife adaptation—the peregrine falcon. Once nearly extinct due to DDT, these birds have made a remarkable comeback. But what's interesting is that they've found new habitats in cities. Skyscrapers mimic the tall cliffs they traditionally nest on, and the urban environment provides an abundance of prey, like pigeons. However, city life poses challenges. For example, young falcons often fledge—that is, they leave the nest—and end up on the ground, unable to fly back up. To address this, some cities have set up special rescue programs. Volunteers monitor nests and rescue fallen chicks, then place them on higher ledges. Research shows that urban falcons have higher breeding success than their rural counterparts, possibly due to less predation and steady food supply. This demonstrates how adaptable these birds are, and how human-altered environments can sometimes support biodiversity.