Peregrine Falcon
The American Peregrine Falcon, once a common resident throughout much of California, began rapidly declining about the mid-part of the 20thcentury. The chief factor responsible for this decline was biochemical impacts from pesticide residues, but habitat degradation throughout its range also played a large role. Documentation of these alarming trends not only in California populations but throughout the species range prompted the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 1970 to list the American Peregrine Falcon as Federally endangered.
Once a species is federally listed, the Endangered Species Act strives not only to prevent the species from becoming extinct, but ultimately to restore these species to the point where they no longer require legal protection. To this end, the USFWS is required to develop and implement formal Recovery Plans to help guide restoration efforts. Fundamental to plan development and implementation are range-wide inventories of species actual abundance and distribution, and monitoring to track population trends.
In 1999, due to population recovery criteria being met, the American Peregrine Falcon was removed from the Federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. It currently retains endangered status by the State of California.
In a 1980 study thirty-six priority cliff sites were located, described, photographed, and mapped for their potential to support Peregrine Falcon nesting. Data analysis showed that none of the 36 cliff sites held excellent potential as a Peregrine Falcon nesting location. However, two sites were rated as having good potential, three sites were rated as suitable, and four sites were rated as having marginal potential. The remaining 27 potential sites after closer examination were considered unsuitable for nesting.
