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 Found all over the world its name means “wanderer,” but for most people the peregrine falcon is admired for its incredible speed. Plunging from tremendous heights, this crow-sized falcon can reach speeds of up to 220 mph in pursuit of prey. Despite our fascination with this striking bird, peregrine falcons disappeared completely from the eastern two-thirds of North America by 1962.
The devastating effect of DDT and related chemicals on peregrines and many other species in the 1950s and 60s is a familiar story, but in the mid-1970s, a few determined and passionate falconers pioneered the restoration of this species. Efforts began in the eastern U.S. as Dr. Tom Cade and a group of peregrine admirers (The Peregrine Fund) developed techniques for captive breeding of adult falcons and controlled releases of their young. The techniques they used provided to be invaluable for other organizations to assist in the recovery of the species throughout the lower 48 states.
 In the Midwest, two biologists carried out coordination for peregrine recovery--Dr. Pat Redig of The Raptor Center and Harrison Tordoff, of the Bell Museum. Releases of young peregrine falcon chicks started along the cliffs of the Mississippi River near Kellogg, Minnesota in 1982. In 1985, the recovery project expanded to other urban areas, such as Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee, and included a total of 13 states and two Canadian provinces. Over the past 20 years, nearly 1,300 young captive-bred falcon chicks have been released, and as of 2006 there are 210 territorial peregrine falcon pairs that produced over 430 young in the Mid-western population. Within a short period of time, the project was well on the way to recovery and the population continued to slowly grow.
In 1999, the peregrine falcon was de listed from the Endangered Species list and is currently being monitored for changes in the population that might require re listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Across the U.S., this successful effort has happened because of the passion people have for this species. Falconers, State wildlife departments, colleges and universities, corporations, and private individuals have all proven how cooperation could successfully work in a wildlife conservation program.
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