Scientific Name:
Falco peregrinus
Nest Type: Scrape,
abandoned platform nests
Nest Location: Cliffs,
trees; 50-200'+
Clutch Size: 2-6;
avg. 3-4
Food: Birds
Foraging Guild:
Aerial pursuit
The Peregrine Falcon is
listed as a federally endangered species by the USFWS and a threatened
species in Minnesota by the Department of Natural Resources. Nearly
worldwide in distribution, the species was almost completely extirpated
from its range in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s as a
result of organochlorine poisoning (Tordoff 1991). In Minnesota, the
Peregrine Falcon nested on cliffs along the North Shore and in the BWCA,
in the St. Croix River Valley, and on the Mississippi River bluffs south
of Red Wing (Janssen 1987, Coffin and Pfannmuller 1988, Tordoff 1991).
The last nesting of native wild Peregrines in the state was recorded
in 1964 (Janssen 1987). Now, Peregrine Falcons are nesting successfully
in Minnesota due to a restoration effort led by Dr. Harrison B. Tordoff
of the University of Minnesota and Dr. Pat Redig of the Raptor Center.
The species has proven adaptable and now nests on tall buildings, bridges,
and smokestacks around the state, as well as natural cliffs along the
North Shore.
In the past, Peregrine
Falcons left Minnesota from mid-August to late November, wintering in
Central America (Ehrlich et al. 1988), and returning from early March
through late May (Janssen 1987). The seasonal high for migrating Peregrines
during fall observation at Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve in Duluth was 111
in 1997. Currently, the winter status of the species is questionable
(Janssen 1987). A number of the introduced birds are from non-migratory
populations and have remained on their breeding territories throughout
the winter months (Tordoff 1991).
Non-forested habitats are
preferred because of its hunting style (Coffin and Pfannmuller 1988).
Peregrine Falcons prey almost exclusively on birds, which are captured
in direct aerial pursuit (Ehrlich et al. 1988, Coffin and Pfannmuller
1988). Prey species range in size from warblers to ducks, with pigeons
constituting a major prey item in urban habitats (Tordoff 1991). Some
concern remains that high levels of pesticide residues in prey species
may cause future problems. Habitat does not seem to be a limiting factor
for this species in Minnesota, although availability of suitable nesting
sites may be.
The Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources (MDNR) has developed habitat management guidlines
for Peregrine nest sites which suggest that forest management practices
may have some impact on this species. These guidelines require MDNR
personnel to identify active and potential nesting sites, to develop
site specific management plans for all such sites, and to restrict human
disturbance (including timber harvest) in these areas during "most critical"
and "moderately critical" periods from February 1 to September 1.