The Peregrine Falcon is well monitored in Canada on parts of its breeding grounds thanks to a targeted survey which recurs every five years. Peregrine Falcon populations declined precipitously in North America when DDT use became widespread in the early 1950s (White et al. 2002). By 1970, the species was extirpated in large parts of its range and had declined drastically in others. Since the ban on DDT in North America in the early 1970s, the population has increased dramatically due to the reintroduction of captive bred falcons. The Peregrine Falcon was originally assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada as three subspecies: anatum (Endangered in 1978, and Threatened in 1999 and 2000), tundrius (Threatened in 1978 and Special Concern in 1992), and the coastal pealei (Special Concern in 1978, 1999, and 2001; ECCC 2017b). In 2007, the species was reassessed as two subspecies, the first two being lumped together into the genetically indistiguishable anatum/tundrius, which was assessed as Special Concern. This subspecies was recently re-assessed as Not at Risk (COSEWIC 2017g). The pealei subspecies was re-confirmed as Special Concern in 2007 and again in 2017 (COSEWIC 2017h). Data from targeted surveys indicate a more moderate increase in the pealei population since 1970. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The widespread use of the pesticide DDT caused the dramatic decline of the Peregrine Falcon starting in the early 1950s, but the population has rebounded since DDT was banned in Canada in 1970 (White et al. 2002). More recently, high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers have raised concerns for Peregrine Falcon populations (ECCC 2017b). The use of these chemicals has since been limited by the Canadian government and in parts of the United States. The fostering of captive-bred Peregrine Falcon began in Canada in 1975, and by 1998, over 1500 captive-bred birds had been released in Canada and 7000 throughout North America (White et al. 2002). These reintroductions supported the recovery of the species in southern Canada (Holroyd and Banasch 1993). A few reintroductions in the United States involved birds from Eurasian populations and concern has been voiced over potential genetic impacts. However, a genetic review of the Canadian population found <1% of falcons had non-anatum genes (Brown et al. 2007), because Canadian reintroduction programs only used birds of the anatum subspecies (Holroyd and Banasch 1993, COSEWIC 2007e). The Peregrine Falcon pealei subspecies was not impacted as heavily by pesticide contamination as other Peregrine Falcon populations, likely due to its remote nesting grounds and seabird prey (COSEWIC 2007e). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), see the SARA Registry.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
