Peregrine Falcon

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Peregrine Falcon

1999 marked 20 years of peregrine falcons nesting in the wild in New Jersey, the longest period of any state east of the Mississippi River, since this bird's recovery from extirpation. Fifteen pairs of peregrine falcons were active in the 1999 nesting season. Ten pairs nested on nesting towers or buildings and the remaining five pairs nested on major bridges. Production for the 10 pairs that nested on towers and buildings was excellent: they produced 23 young for a production rate of 2.1 young/active nest. Bridge-nesting peregrines often have low production, but in 1999 the rate was 1.4 young/active nest. Endangered and Nongame Species Program biologists continue to monitor peregrine eggs for environmental contaminants: levels of PCBs are fairly high, but are not causing low productivity at this time.

ENSP biologists continue to work with the Division's Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other such as Public Service Electric and Gas, Jersey Central Power and Light Co., AT&T, the NJ-NY Port Authority, Delaware River Port Authority, Island Beach State Park, and the Atlantic City Hilton to maintain and protect peregrine falcon nests in New Jersey.

At the national level, the Department of Interior recently removed the peregrine falcon from the Federal Endangered Species List. This is based on US Fish and Wildlife Service data that indicates the American peregrine has recovered in sufficient numbers throughout most of the country. This recovery was largely due to state-based recovery and protection. The peregrine will keep it's NJ endangered status for the foreseeable future, due to the problems of human disturbance and the threat of contaminants in the environment.