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 On August 20th, 1999, in Boise, Idaho, Northern Trail zookeeper Jacquelyn Fallon was witness to the celebration of an historic achievement in wildlife conservation, believed at one time to be unobtainable: the restoration and de-listing of the peregrine falcon in the United States. Working together, falconers, state wildlife departments, colleges and universities, corporations, and private individuals, have proven that cooperation can create success for wildlife conservation.
In the 1940s’ about 7,000 peregrines were found throughout North America. By the 1970’s, numbers had plummeted to just a few hundred due to the heavy use and devastating effects of the chemical pesticide DDT. The first releases of captive-bred peregrines began in the east in the mid-1970’s. Working with many different conservation groups and states, over a period of 15 years, more than 7,000 young peregrines were released in the U.S., and despite setbacks and occasional losses, peregrines have recovered.
Minnesota peregrine recovery began in 1982 when the first peregrines were introduced to the wild along the Mississippi River. Releases then moved to urban areas and cliffs on the North Shore of Lake Superior, and the population began to recover. The next milestone was met when a chick, produced in the wild from a pair of captive bred bird,s fledged from a building in downtown Minneapolis in 1987. This was the first bird produced, incubated, hatched and fledged from a resident pair of peregrine falcons in the wild in Minnesota since the 1950’s.
 Although captive-bred peregrines are no longer released, the recovered population is still monitored by banding and collecting data on all known peregrines in the upper Midwest. By the end of the 2004 season, 171 peregrine pairs had produced 376 young. Nearly half of the pairs nest on buildings, but they have also been recorded nesting on bridges, smokestacks and cliffs. Continued study of the productivity of specific individuals, behavior, chemical monitoring (post DDT ban), genetics, and migration is underway.
The Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program awarded Jacquelyn Fallon, Northern Trail zookeeper, $1,040 in 2005 to cover her expenses for a month that she spent monitoring and banding peregrines across the Midwest.
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