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Working to Conserve Birds of Prey in Nature Newsletter No Working to Conserve Birds of Prey in Nature newsletter no. 30 summer/fall 1999 Drawing by John Schmitt On 20 and 21 August 1999 a series happening.” No single phrase, or even from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans, of events and activities occurred which paragraph, however, can capture that and from Canada and Alaska to Mexico. will never be forgotten by those who partici- almost magical time which lasted for There were even several people present pated and which made everyone involved two days. And one thing is for certain— from abroad. The diversity of participants feel better for having being there. It was the nothing like it will ever happen again. mirrored the recovery effort, as did their de-listing of the Peregrine Falcon as an Over 1,000 people gathered in Boise, friendship and cooperation. The celebration endangered species and the North American Idaho to be together and share the accom- was hosted by The Peregrine Fund, The Peregrine Falcon Victory Celebration. Partic- plishment in which they all took Raptor Center, and the Santa Cruz Predatory pants called the Celebration a “Peregrine part—restoration of the Peregrine Falcon. Bird Research Group. In this newsletter Woodstock” and a “once in a lifetime They came from throughout North America, we try to re-capture some of the moments. North American Peregrine Falcon Celebration the peregrine fund • 566 west flying hawk lane • boise, idaho Peregrine Falcon De-listing Press Conference Photo by Russell Thorstrom Speakers included, from left to right, the Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Dr. Tom Cade, Senator Mike Crapo, and Dr. Derek Ratcliffe. Dr. Bill Burnham served as Master of Ceremonies. t 9:30 am on 20 August 1999 a and cooperation be applied to restoration organochlrine pesticides in the United crowd gathered at The Peregrine of other endangered species. Then, follow- States and Canada, and following the A Fund’s headquarters, the World ing a few brief comments, Secretary implementation of successful manage- Center for Birds of Prey, to listen to Babbitt made the announcement for ment activities. This action will remove comments by Tom Cade, Derek Ratcliffe, which all were waiting. “The Peregrine the American peregrine falcon (Falco and Senator Mike Crapo and await Falcon is today officially de-listed under peregrinus anatum) throughout its the announcement by Secretary of the Endangered Species Act.” With those range as an endangered species thereby Interior Bruce Babbitt that the Peregrine words over three decades of work were removing all protection provided by the Falcon was officially delisted from concluded and the celebration began. Act. It also will remove the designation the Endangered Species List. Founder of The Final Rule was published in the of “endangered due to similarity of The Peregrine Fund Tom Cade spoke Federal Register on 25 August and states: appearance” for any free-flying peregrine about the magnitude and uniqueness “We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service falcons within the 48 conterminous of the restoration effort. Derek Ratcliffe (Service), have determined that the United States. It will not affect protection reviewed his and other’s pioneering American peregrine falcon (Falco provided to this species by the Migratory research which tied use of DDT and other peregrinus anatum) is no longer an Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the Convention on chlorinated hydrocarbons and eggshell endangered or threatened species International Trade in Endangered thinning to the decline of the Peregrine pursuant to the Endangered Species Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Falcon. Senator Crapo emphasized the Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This or state laws and regulation, nor will it cooperative nature of the Peregrine Falcon determination is based on available affect the endangered listing status of restoration and the lack of conflict, data indicating that this subspecies the Eurasian peregrine falcon (Falco asking that this same formula of flexibility has recovered following restrictions on peregrinus peregrinus) under the Act.” 2 the peregrine fund newsletter no. 30 • summer/fall 1999 Restoration 9 August 1970 cover story by David Peregrine Falcon Releases in North America Zimmermann in The New York Between 1974 - 99 (Total = 6769) A Times Magazine was titled “Death Comes to The Peregrine Falcon.” Canada 1667 Many people believed extinction of the Peregrine was inevitable. Breeding Peregrines had already vanished from the eastern and midwestern 2109 United States, and the remnant population 2109 in the western states was still in decline. 1007 In 1975 only about 35 pairs of wild 777 Peregrines were known to exist in the contiguous western United States. 1209 Possibly these dark years were necessary for the seeds of restoration to germinate and grow. And grow they did, as these graphics represent. TPF East A goliath amount of effort was Midwest expended over a huge area to a TPF West successful result. Santa Cruz The most telling result is the increasing There were further increases in 1999, book Silent Spring and the bright minds numbers of wild and in many areas there are already and hardworking scientists who testified Peregrine Falcons more Peregrines breeding than were and argued their case to Congress and annually seen in ever known and the upper limit of the Environmental Protection Agency. North America. the population number is yet unknown. Even with their insistence it still took a The U.S. Fish and Drawing by John Schmitt This victory could not have been courageous EPA Administer, William Wildlife Service reported over 1,650 known achieved, however, without banning Ruckleshaus, who rejected his staff’s pairs of American (anatum) Peregrine the use of DDT. To that end we must recommendations and banned use of Falcons in North America in 1998. always remember Rachel Carson and her DDT in 1972. North American Peregrine Releases by the Major Cooperators 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 15 0 100 50 0 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 TPF EAST MIDWEST CANADA TPF WEST SANTA CRUZ newsletter no. 30 • summer/fall 1999 the peregrine fund 3 Get Re-Acquainted Social Photo by Anne Toroxel eginning in the late afternoon of the 20th, attendees gathered at Zoo BBoise to register and pass between two eight-foot tall Peregrine Falcons and below a sign designating this as the location of the inaugural celebration event. Amid boundless food, drinks, and music, old friends became reacquainted and new friendships were made. All were united, knowingly or unknowingly over the years, by a common goal: restoration of the Peregrine Falcon. Images of Peregrines were scattered about the grounds where attendees relaxed and enjoyed a strolling dinner. As dinner and conversation progressed, filing into the rear of the zoo was the 130-member strong Boise State University Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band. Above: Jim Enderson makes the victory sign at the entrance to Zoo Boise, kick-off site for the Peregrine Celebration. Left: Dan, Jeanne, Erik, and Joe Konkel register for the Celebration. Below: Long-time cooperators Duane Shroufe (center), Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, with his wife Linda and Assistant Director of the Wildlife Management Division Bruce Taubert, helped achieve the de-listing of the Peregrine and participated in the Celebration. Photo by Gerald French Photo by Sue Kirchoff 4 the peregrine fund newsletter no. 30 • summer/fall 1999 With the crash of cymbals and beat of bass drums, the band played several rousing songs while the cheerleaders entertained the crowd. With the final song, kazoos were passed out and every- one was invited to follow the marching band across the bridge over the Boise River to the grand hall of the Velma Morrison Center for the Performing Arts where the remainder of the evening’s entertainment occurred. Photo by Sue Kirchoff Photo by Reed Weber Photo by Gerald French Above: Richard and Lorraine Fyfe speak with Mike Kochert (left) while picking up their celebration print. Right: Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band performs for Peregrine enthusiasts. newsletter no. 30 • summer/fall 1999 the peregrine fund 5 Peregrine Extravaganza near capacity crowd of about 2,000 celebration A participants and guests filled the Morrison Center. As the crowd settled, the band played on from the stage and was joined by the exuberant Harvey Neef Mane Line Dancers. Precisely at 8:00 pm the house lights faded and the Peregrine Extravaganza began. Bill Burnham acted as Master of Ceremonies. Attendees were welcomed to Idaho by Senator Jim McClure. Senator McClure shares the credit for the restora- tion of the Peregrine with the U.S. Congress, Congressman Sid Yates, and others. Without their stead- fast support over almost two Photo by Tucker Productions decades, annually obtaining the Above: The very grand finale of the dollars to continue the restoration Extravaganza ended with a curtain effort would have been call of all performing, including “Jess,” almost impossible. Bill then a male Peregrine Falcon. introduced Tom Cade as the person most responsible for Right: Tom Cade. restoration of the Peregrine Falcon and its guardian angel. Following Tom there was comedy by because you and thousands of other Professor Avian Guano (Denny Olson) people wanted it to. You cared enough and a performance by Steve Martin and to make a difference, take a stand, make a his feathered friends. Steve ended with contribution. We set aside our differences a motivational conservation message. and agreed—the Peregrine Falcon would The Extravaganza peaked when Roy not disappear and it would again take Disney was introduced and spoke about its rightful place as an integral part of Photo by Gerald French the making of the feature film Varda the our natural world. Peregrine Falcon. This film helped “This evening we declare this victory now again includes the Peregrine Falcon.
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