The Peregrine is Back

Many of the people and organizations who participated in the recovery of the peregrine falcon marked the 10th anniversary Thursday, August 20, of the bird's removal from the federal endangered species list. Officials from Idaho Fish and Game and The Peregrine Fund, located at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, gathered at the MK Nature Center to mark the milestone in the bird's recovery and the change of status under Idaho law. "We are proud to be part of this unprecedented conservation success," said J. Peter Jenny, president and CEO of The Peregrine Fund. "This is further proof that, with dedication and commitment, an endangered species can be pulled back from the brink of extinction." The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took the peregrine off the endangered species list in 1999. Meeting in July, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopted a Fish and Game proposal to reclassify the peregrine falcon as a protected nongame species in Idaho. After legislative review and approval, the new status would take effect next spring. "We think the bird is sufficiently recovered to warrant reclassification from a state threatened species to a protected nongame migratory bird," Fish and Game biologist Rex Sallabanks said. "We also felt that since the bird had been delisted at the federal level 10 years ago, it was time to bring the state of Idaho in line with the federal classification." Once a rare sight, peregrine falcons teetered on the brink of extinction. But they have made a stunning comeback - with some human help. A ban on the use of the pesticide DDT, captive breeding and reintroduction programs, and the protection of nest sites have helped bring the bird back. Falcons are sensitive to DDT, which results in thin and fragile eggshells. By 1970, the species was wiped out east of the Mississippi and down to 39 known pairs in the West. The peregrine was one of the first species included on the federal list of endangered species in 1972. By 1974, peregrines were extirpated as a breeding species from Idaho. In 1975, only 35 pairs were known to exist in the wild in the Western states. But a recovery effort already was hatching. Tom Cade of Cornell University, using falcons borrowed from falconers, successfully raised 20 young falcons in 1973. He released the first captive-bred falcons the following year. Cade's efforts led to the formation of the Peregrine Fund and the creation of the World Center for Birds of Prey in Fort Collins, Colorado. The two joined and moved to Boise in 1984. At the time, no one knew whether a recovery effort would work. Since then more than 6,700 falcons have been raised in captivity and released across the country. In Idaho, 188 captive-bred falcons have been released at 15 locations. Today, about three dozen breeding pairs are scattered around Idaho. Eight peregrine falcons were released in downtown Boise in 1988 and 1989. And falcons have reared chicks in a nest box at the top of the One Capital Center building at 10th and Main streets since 2003. Peregrine falcons still are plagued with thinner than normal eggshells - the result of eating prey that winter in countries where DDT still is used, from pesticide residue at breeding grounds, or from illegal use of the chemical in the United States. The falcons also lack suitable nesting sites close to food sources and free from human disturbances. Peregrine falcons occur nearly worldwide. They usually nest on cliff ledges and lay three or four eggs in April. They catch smaller birds - usually on the wing. Hunting territories may extend to a radius of 12 to 15 miles. The birds are 16 to 19 inches long, with a long tail and pointed wings that span 39 to 42 inches. They weigh about two pounds and live up to 17 years. And they can dive at more than 200 mph. They are still a rare and wondrous sight.