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:
a. Egg 1: __________
b. Egg 2: __________
c. Egg 3: __________
d. Egg 4: __________
5. Hatching dates
a. Egg 1: __________
b. Egg 2: __________
c. Egg 3: __________
d. Egg 4: __________
6. Date the falcon chicks are banded: ____________
7. Names and color band (CB) numbers of falcon chicks:
a. Chick 1: ______________
b. Chick 2: ______________
c. Chick 3: ______________
d. Chick 4: ______________
8. Date the falcon chicks try to fly:
a. Chick 1: __________
b. Chick 2: __________
c. Chick 3: __________
d. Chick 4: __________
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Peregrine Falcon Observation and Discussion
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, a professor of Ornithology at
Cornell University. 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.
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Peregrine Falcon Observation and Discussion
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?
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Peregrine Falcon Observation and Discussion
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
http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/
 Frogwatch
http://www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA/
 Minnesota Herpetological Society
http://www.bellmuseum.org/herpetology/Main.html
 Bell Museum of Natural History Online
http://www.bellmuseum.org/
 Big Backyard (for young children)
http://www.nwf.org/backyardbuddies/
 Journey North
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
 Guide to the Animal Kingdom (answer those questions about class versus order!)
http://www.biosis.org/free_resources/classifn/classifn.html#amphibians
 National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/
 Infrared Zoo
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/
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