The Endangerment Status of Peregrine Falcons

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The Endangerment Status of Peregrine Falcons

• Margaret
• Rolling Hills
• 2006

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The peregrine falcon is a magnificent raptor, the
lord of the sky. However, this beautiful bird is
threatened by extinction. There are many reasons
the peregrine became endangered. One of the most
dangerous things that effected the peregrine was
D.D.T(Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane). D.D.T
was a bug pesticide used during World War Two and
after. Raptors, especially peregrines, are prone
to D.D.T. Small rodents digested the D.D.T and
they in turn were digested by raptors. D.D.T
caused the shells of peregrine eggs to be too
thin and crack when incubation started. Luckily,
D.D.T is now banned from the U.S.

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Another reason peregrines were endangered was
because of their low production rate. A
peregrine female lays two to five eggs a year.
Natural predators and humans are also reasons why
the peregrine became endangered. Humans endanger
peregrines by shooting, poisoning, stealing, and
destroying their habitats.
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Peregrines and other endangered species are
protected by the endangered species act (ESA or
the Act). The Act was founded in 1973. The Act
has many purposes. One thing it does is to
preserve ecosystems where endangered or
threatened species live. It also allows the
President to help another country with an
endangerment plan. This act is vital to the
survival of the peregrine because it prohibits
anyone from taking an endangered species out of
the United States. Anyone who does pays a fine
up to 50,000 and can possibly spend time in
jail.
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The number of peregrine breeding pairs has
drastically changed. The cause of that was
D.D.T. Prior to World War Two (before 1940)
there were about 350-400 breeding pairs in the
Eastern United States. In 1997 the peregrine
population reached 174 pairs in the same region.
The peregrine population dropped from 176 to 226
breeding pairs in only about 58 years. That is
how much damage D.D.T inflicted on the peregrine
falcon.
Photo by Scott Wright
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Photo by Scott Wright
Now that you have realized how much peregrines
have suffered at the hands of humans in the form
of D.D.T, help then by protecting our
environments. We need falcons and should protect
them. The peregrine falcon is a symbol of the
wild, of endangerment, and now of recovery.
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Bibliography   1. Peregrine Falcon Chesapeake
Bay Field Office http//www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay
/Peregr.htm 2. News Releases Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador NLIS 2 August 8,
2002 http//www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2002/
tcr/08099n02.htmtop 3. Peregrine Falcon
Defenders of Wildlife http//www.kidplanet.org/fa
ctsheets/peregrinefalcon.html 4. Peregrine
Falcons Off Endangered List John Hopkins
Tuesday August 25, 1998 http//enquirer.com/editi
ons/1998/08/25/loc_falcons25.html 5. The
Endangered Species Act http//www.esr.pdx.edu/pu
b/ESR622/esa.htmltop