Peregrine Falcon Observation and Discussion

Watch the Chicks Grow!

  1. Site: ______
  2. Dad’s name (if known): ______
  3. Mom’s name (if known): ______
  4. Egg-laying dates:
  5. Egg 1: ______
  6. Egg 2: ______
  7. Egg 3: ______
  8. Egg 4: ______
  9. Hatching dates
  10. Egg 1: ______
  11. Egg 2: ______
  12. Egg 3: ______
  13. Egg 4: ______
  14. Date the falcon chicks are banded: ______
  15. Names and color band (CB) numbers of falcon chicks:
  16. Chick 1: ______
  17. Chick 2: ______
  18. Chick 3: ______
  19. Chick 4: ______
  20. Date the falcon chicks try to fly:
  21. Chick 1: ______
  22. Chick 2: ______
  23. Chick 3: ______
  24. Chick 4: ______

Peregrine Recovery

The world's fastest bird, once driven to the brink of extinction in the United States, soared off the Federal Endangered Species List in 1999. This amazing success story might never have happened without the dedication and hard work of falcon fans, researchers, scientists, falconers, and other people who worked hard to preserve something important to them.

Why did the Peregrine falcon come so close to extinction?

In the early 1960s, researchers discovered that DDT, a once-common pesticide, caused egg shell thinning. Peregrine falcons, Bald eagles, and other birds were laying eggs with shells so thin that they couldn’t support the weight of the parent bird. The eggs and chicks were destroyed during incubation.

Because of DDT, there weren’t enough Peregrine falcon chicks hatching to replace older birds. In the early 1940s, there were about 200 pairs of Peregrine falcons east of the Mississippi River. By 1968, there were no pairs of Peregrine falcons east of the Mississippi River at all. When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, the Peregrine falcon became one of the first animals listed as endangered.

How close did the Peregrine falcon come to extinction? By the mid-1970s, there were just 19 pairs of Peregrine falcons nesting in the United States. Many people believed that the Peregrine falcon would become extinct.

What saved the Peregrine falcon?

The Peregrine Fund was founded in 1970 by Dr. Tom Cade, aprofessorof Ornithology at CornellUniversity. Dr. Cade believed that the Peregrine falcon could be saved. So did his students and many of his associates. Their belief – and hard work – made a difference!

The Peregrine Fund hatched falcon chicks in captivity. When the chicks were almost old enough to fly, they were released into the wild using a special technique called hacking. The young falcons were put into a ‘hack box’ and fed until they were old enough and experienced enough to begin catching their own prey.

The Peregrine Fund began releasing falcons in 1974. By the early 1980s, falcons were being released across the United States. Utility participation was crucial to the success of this program, beginning with a single falcon nesting at the Xcel Energy Plant in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota in late 1989. Other electric utility companies – Dairyland Power, Alliant Power, Minnesota Power and Light, and We Energies – quickly joined the peregrine-utility program, which expanded rapidly.

What saved the Peregrine falcon? People who believed in what they were doing and who worked hard to accomplish their dream! Some people worked to hatch and release Peregrine falcons into the wild. Some people worked to make DDT illegal in the United States. Some people worked to pass the Federal Endangered Species Act. Some people worked to build nest boxes for Peregrine falcons. Some people watched and reported on Peregrine falcon nests. Some people banded Peregrine falcons. All of these people believed that the Peregrine falcon was worth preserving.

In 1999, the Peregrine falcon was removed from the federal endangered species list in the United States. By 2002, peregrine-utility programs were underway across the United States and in several European and Asian countries as well.

The Raptor Resource Project is proud to have played a part in Peregrine falcon recovery. We want children – and adults – to know that they can make a difference!

Discussion

  1. What did people do to preserve the Peregrine falcon?
  2. What are some things that people can do to help preserve other animals and plants on endangered species lists?
  3. Do you think it is important to preserve animals on endangered species lists?
  4. Why was DDT so dangerous to Peregrine falcons and other birds?

Do you love animals? Would you like learn more about them? Here are a few tips!

  1. Observe your favorite animal!
    Watch your favorite animal in the wild, at a zoo, on the internet, or on video/dvd. Where does it live? What does it like to eat? What are its habits? What does it sound like? Is it a pack animal, like a wolf, or solitary, like a bear? How do young grow up? Observing animals are a very important part of learning about them!
  2. Read a book!
    Look for books about your animal. These can include field guides, informational books about a species, and books about people that work with animals. Books will help you learn more about your animal and the people that work with animals.
  3. Join a group!
    There are all sorts of animal groups. To find them, have an adult help you search the web, look for science fairs in your area, or ask a teacher.

The following websites offer games, projects, and information about wildlife. They are very child-friendly:

National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Pages

Frogwatch

Minnesota Herpetological Society

Bell Museum of Natural History Online

Big Backyard (for young children)

Journey North

Guide to the Animal Kingdom (answer those questions about class versus order!)

National Geographic

Infrared Zoo

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