Peregrine Falcon History

The peregrine falcon (falco peregrinus) is a species of the order Falconiformes, family Falconidae which includes 39 species of falcons. The peregrine is one of six falcons found in the United States. The others are Gyrfalcon, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, American Kestrel and the Aplomado Falcon.

The peregrine falcon has been roaming the skies of the present-day United States for more than 30,000 years. Once abundant in the United States, peregrines were found primarily east of the Mississippi River and in the Rocky Mountains. In the 1930s, there were approximately 1,000 nesting pairs of peregrines, 300 to 400 of which nested east of the Mississippi River. But in the early 1950s, the breeding population began to disappear.

Endangered

In 1970, the peregrine falcon was listed as an endangered species. By 1975, the peregrine population east of the Mississippi had vanished and only 20 percent of the breeding pairs remained. The falcons were so close to extinction that many of the remaining adult birds were brought into captivity to ensure breeding until they could be released into a safe environment.

Studies indicated that widespread use of the pesticide DDT, which was used to protect trees and crops from insects, nearly annihilated the bird in the U.S. Smaller birds, on which the peregrines fed, were being contaminated by eating insects sprayed with DDT. The peregrines were indirectly poisoned by feeding on the contaminated birds. The pesticide weakened the birds' reproductive capability by producing thin-shelled eggs that broke when incubated by the adults.

Conservation groups began releasing peregrines into the wild and urban areas during the late 1970s. In the Midwest, there were releases in Minneapolis, Minn.; Chicago, Ill.; and St. Louis, Mo.

Nebraska

In 1988, the Nebraska Peregrine Falcon Project reintroduced the bird in Nebraska with the release of seven falcons atop the Woodmen of the World Tower in Omaha, Neb. In 1992, a nesting pair was established at the Tower and they hatched the first falcon chicks in Nebraska since the early 1900s. Since then, peregrines have been introduces at several sites in Nebraska, including the state capitol building in Lincoln, Neb.

Because of the efforts of preservation groups, and public and private organizations to reintroduce the peregrines to the wild, the bird's population now numbers approximately 1,200 breeding pairs.

Falcon Facts

Peregrines normally grow to 15 inches in length with a 40-inch wingspan. The speed of a peregrine has been said to reach 175 miles per hour or more. However, experiments conducted by scientists put the bird's diving speed at approximately 82 miles per hour and level flight at approximately 62 miles per hour.

Peregrines may travel up to 17 miles from nesting cliffs to hunting areas. Flight speed in excess of 60 miles an hour allow this falcon to hunt large areas with little effort. Preferred hunting habitats such as cropland, meadows, river bottoms, marshes, and lakes attract abundant bird life. Peregrines appear to capture a wide variety of birds, including blackbirds, jays, doves, shorebirds, and smaller songbirds. Most prey species are struck from above at great speed, but they often evade the falcon's attack by aerobatics or diving to cover.

Peregrines do not normally breed until at least two years old. They must fledge approximately 1.25 young per pair in order to sustain the population. Due to long average life expectancy and the peregrine's population dynamics, successful management operations do not provide quick population recovery.

• Peregrine Falcons are not only found atop the Woodmen Tower, but on every continent except for Antarctica


• Zeus can fly in excess of 200mph, dipping and diving to provide food for his family


• The Average Clutch, or laying session, consists of three to four eggs, which hatch after an incubation period of 29 to 32 days


• There are an estimated 1,650 breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the United States and Canada


• Hacking, Direct Fostering and Cross Fostering are three of the different methods used to release birds of prey


• Female peregrine falcons lay eggs in two to three day intervals

Epilogue

On August 25, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially removed the American peregrine falcon from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, recognizing the subspecies' recovery following restrictions on pesticides in the United States and Canada, and following the implementation of successful management activities. Although delisting the peregrine removes it from the ESA's protection, it still will be protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and state laws and regulations; and its status will be monitored for a minimum of five years.