Media Resources : Peregrine falcon management plan FAQs :

FAQs: Peregrine falcon management plan

Updated April 14, 2009

• News release - 2/27/09 

Contact: Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130

• What is the status of the peregrine falcon?
• Why does the FWC need a management plan for the peregrine falcon?
• Can the public comment on the management plan?
• Who has been involved in the drafting of this management plan?
• Will the management plan allow the harvest of peregrine falcons for falconry?
• What are some of the major points within the management plan?
• Are peregrine falcons migratory birds?
• Peregrine falcon fast facts

What is the status of the peregrine falcon?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the peregrine falcon from the federal list of Endangered Species in 1999, because it has made successful resurgence nationwide.

• In 1965, the population was 650 birds, down from 20,000 birds earlier in the century. The USFWS recorded 345 nesting pairs in 1975. Peregrine falcons were greatly impacted by the use of DDT since the 1940s. DDT caused peregrines to lay thin-shelled eggs.
• Peregrines had disappeared east of the Mississippi by the mid-1960s. Captive breeding programs began in the 1960s and, following the ban of DDT in the 1970s, captive-reared peregrines were released into their former range.
• Of the two subspecies of peregrine falcon that breed in the United States, there are now at least 1,900 breeding pairs.

Florida continues to list the falcon as an endangered species but is developing a draft management plan in anticipation of delisting.

Why does the FWC need a management plan for the peregrine falcon?

A biological status review of the peregrine falcon was presented to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in June 2008. The Commission asked staff to move forward on the process of delisting the falcon, which requires the drafting of a management plan as a first step. A draft of the plan will be released for public comment on Feb. 27. The draft will be presented for first hearing at the April Commission meeting in Tallahassee, with a final vote scheduled for June in Crystal River.

Can the public comment on the management plan?

Yes, the FWC is accepting public comments until April 15 at 11:59 p.m. Written comments can be sent to Peregrine Falcon Management Plan, 1239 S.W. 10th St., Ocala, FL 34474-2797 or submitted to peregrine@MyFWC.com.

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Who has been involved in the drafting of this management plan?

FWC staff drafted the plan but met with stakeholders on two occasions to discuss it and to receive feedback on the plan and on the issue of harvesting peregrines for falconry in Florida.

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Will the management plan allow the harvest of peregrine falcons for falconry?

A decision has not yet been made whether capture of peregrines for falconry will be allowed in Florida. The FWC will work with stakeholders to create a rule concerning the use of peregrine falcons in falconry.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released an environmental assessment on peregrine harvest for falconry in December, which set the maximum number of peregrine falcons allowed to be taken for falconry at 36 anywhere east of the 100th meridian, which encompasses 37 states. The Atlantic Flyway Council will set the number each state will be allowed out of that 36.  FWC staff is waiting for the council's decision before working out the details for Florida.

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What are some of the major points within the management plan?

Florida's peregrine falcon management plan includes threat assessments, conservation goals and recommended conservation actions. The management plan is a conservation tool to ensure the peregrine falcon will continue to maintain a sustainable and healthy population. The goal of this management plan is to maintain a stable or increasing peregrine population in Florida. The FWC is dedicated to protecting the peregrine falcon in perpetuity and would implement no strategies that would lead to another decline in population.

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Are peregrine falcons migratory birds?

Yes. Peregrine falcons don't breed in Florida, but some will spend the winter here. They can be spotted in the fall and winter over open terrain, particularly near coastal shorelines and wetlands. Many peregrines fly over Florida during their fall and spring migrations as they move between northern breeding grounds and wintering areas in Central and South America.

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Peregrine falcon fast facts

• The name "  peregrine"   means "  wanderer,"   which is the most appropriate name for this species that has one of the longest migrations of any North American bird. Some fly as much as 15,500 miles in one year.
• The peregrine is known as the world's fastest bird, averaging 25-34 miles per hour in traveling flight and reaching speeds in excess of 200 mph during dives for prey.
• The peregrine's preferred prey are doves, shorebirds and ducks.
• People have trained falcons for hunting for over a thousand years, and the peregrine falcon is one of the most prized birds by falconers.
• The captive-breeding efforts to re-establish peregrine populations were assisted by the methods of handling captive falcons developed by falconers. The original peregrines used as breeding stock for the recovery program were donated by concerned falconers.
• The peregrine falcon is one of the most widespread birds in the world, as it is found on all continents, except Antarctica, and on many oceanic islands.

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