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News: Canadian Peregrines
The Peregrine Chick:
Falcons return to Fundy
The Globe & Mail - 7 September 2004
More than a half-century after the majestic peregrine falcon vanished from along the Fundy coast, the threatened species is back and thriving in near-record numbers. Seeing a precious peregrine soaring in flight makes its comeback seem nothing short of miraculous. It was no wildlife wonder that returned them to these parts, but rather a carefully choreographed recovery effort that worked so seamlessly no one really talks about it, said Diane Amirault, head of the Canadian Wildlife Services species-at-risk program. When baby falcons reared in captivity were methodically released into the wild in the 1980s, biologists such as Ms. Amirault prayed that five pairs would nest and reproduce along the Fundy coast, where at the turn of the century peregrines were at their peak with a dozen pairs nesting along the cliffs from Fundy National Park to Grand Manan Island. This summer, Canadian Wildlife Services tallied nine peregrine pairs in New Brunswick and seven across the bay in Nova Scotia.
"Even going up one pair in New Brunswick is a very big deal," Ms. Amirault said. "We are making good progress. We met our recovery target in about 1990, but they are back in the last couple of years like we have really never seen them." When park warden George Sinclair began working in Fundy National Park in 1975 there was not a peregrine to be seen in the lush, glorious woodland. The park opened in 1950, two years after the last peregrines were spotted at Point Wolfe. By 1955 the falcons had also disappeared from Nova Scotia's Bay area. Contamination from pesticides that were eventually banned in the late 1970s had wiped them out, making it nearly impossible for peregrines to reproduce. DDT caused females to lay eggs so thin they were often crushed during incubation and the poison prompted parent peregrines to devour their young.
To view rest of the original article ... Falcons return to Fundy
The Peregrine Chick:
Environment Minister Jim Prentice Announces Investment for Wildlife Conservation Projects in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
Marketwire/Environment Canada - 20 March 2009
Canada's Environment Minister Jim Prentice today announced an investment from the Government of Canada's Habitat Stewardship Program in four conservation projects in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick that will protect important wildlife and their habitats.
"We have awarded funding to four Maritime organizations for special habitat stewardship initiatives because wildlife conservation remains a top priority for the Government of Canada during the current tough economic period," said Minister Prentice. "Today's announcement demonstrates our Government's continuing commitment to conserving and protecting our environment for the benefit of all Canadians" said Minister Prentice.
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust is receiving $170,000 for a project to secure and protect critical habitat areas for species at risk in southwest Nova Scotia. The Governors of Acadia University are receiving $135,000 for various initiatives to protect the Blandings turtle and the eastern ribbon snake. The Nature Trust of New Brunswick is receiving $123,000 for conservations efforts regarding the Peregrine falcon. And the Canadian Sea Turtle Network in Halifax is receiving $110,000 for a project for the conservation of the leatherback sea turtle. All of the species the four projects will help conserve are currently listed as endangered, threatened or "of special concern". This represents a total federal contribution of $538,000.
To date this fiscal year the Government of Canada has committed $11.3 million in funding to 205 projects in communities across Canada through the Habitat Stewardship Program. The Program contributes to the recovery of endangered, threatened and other species at risk while also preventing species from becoming a conservation concern. It is a partnership-based conservation initiative managed by Environment Canada, Fisheries & Oceans Canada and Parks Canada.
For more information about the Habitat Stewardship Program and about the four Maritimes projects announced today, please see the related media backgrounders.
To view the original article including photos ...
Env Min Jim Prentice Announces Investment for Wildlife Conservation Projects in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
carly:
Protecting the peregrine By Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com
MNR manager of protection and species at risk, Jason Travers, said the peregrine falcon is found in both urban and natural environments.
New regulations protecting the habitat of several of Ontario’s endangered species, including the peregrine falcon, take effect later this month.
The Ministry of Natural Resources Thursday hosted an open house at the Victoria Inn to share the new regulations with the public and let them know what this could mean for individuals and what can be done to protect the peregrine falcon.
Manager of protection and species at risk Jason Travers said the rules were developed to ensure peregrines are sustained across Ontario’s landscape since the bird is found in both urban and natural environments.
"They nest all over the place in terms of cliff faces in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury and even in Ottawa and Toronto, you can find them on hotel buildings in downtown," he said. "Those are actually protected as well under the regulations, not just the natural cliff faces you might find in Thunder Bay. Anywhere you find the peregrine falcon, they’re protected."
While the falcon’s habitat is protected, that doesn’t mean people can’t do regular activities in those areas, Travers said.
"It doesn’t mean you can’t re-shingle your roof or put an addition on your house; it just means big items within that area including any activity that’s sort of larger than your space you might occupy already," he said. "It’s about when you change the landscape significantly."
The regulations mean you can’t damage or destroy the habitat, but that can be different depending on the location.
"These sessions are happening across Ontario to work with all affected individuals or interested folks because one activity might not have the same impact in the same location on the same type of species," Travers said.
"It’s about the big pieces," he added. "The little things about what you’re doing around your house or in terms of farming, that’s not the issue."
From the MNR website.
Peregrine Falcon Habitat:
Peregrine Falcons (threatened) nest on high steep cliff ledges close to large bodies of water and on structures such as tall buildings and bridges. Although Peregrine Falcons now nest in and around Toronto and several other southern Ontario cities, the majority of Ontario’s breeding population is found around Lake Superior in northern Ontario. The regulated habitat for Peregrine Falcon protects natural cliff faces that are at least 15 metres high and that are being used or have been used by Peregrine Falcon for nesting within the past 15 years, plus a 1 kilometre area around the cliff face. Nesting sites located on an artificial cliff face (e.g., steep rock cut, open pit mine) are protected while the nesting site is being used. In addition, nesting sites on structures (such as buildings and bridges) that are being used or have been used by Peregrine Falcon for nesting within the last 2 years, and the area on the outside surface that is within 10 metres of the nesting site are protected, as are areas within 200 metres of these nesting sites that are habitually used by Peregrine Falcon (e.g. for roosting, plucking, or perching).
Alison:
Peregrine Falcon Soars to Freedom (Aug 2009)
After a stint hunting and scaring off gulls at a city landfill, a once-injured nine-year-old peregrine falcon was sent soaring into Edmonton's sunny skies yesterday.
About eight years ago, Val was found in Saskatchewan with a broken wing. Falconer Jim Kroshus worked with her to bring her back to health. Once Val was rehabilitated, she was used in Waste Management Canada's gull abatement program at the West Edmonton Landfill.
Val, with about a dozen other birds, helped control the landfill's exploding gull population - which last year exceeded 250,000. The gulls became a nuisance in and around the landfill due to their sheer numbers - leaving droppings and molting feathers everywhere.
Val's handlers thought she was strong enough to be released back into the wild now that she has experience hunting gulls.
'BITTERSWEET MOMENT'
"It's a bittersweet moment," said Steve Schwartze, a falconer, before helping to release the bird near the landfill yesterday. "We're getting to let a peregrine be a peregrine rather than be in captivity."
From her handler's arm, Val was released and flew across the field before landing on a hill next to 170 Street. Schwartze said Val would probably sit there and scope out the area for a while.
He was optimistic the bird would eventually find a mate. There are currently nine active mating peregrine falcon pairs in the city, Schwartze said.
The gull program, launched in the spring of last year, sees four to six falcons working at the landfill at one time. Since then, the number of gulls at the site has decreased significantly.
Another falcon, 70-day-old Jenna, is also being trained for use at the landfill.
Lucas Stadlwieser, 3, petted the squawking bird. "I was a little bit scared -- the noise was a bit much," said Stadlwieser.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/08/31/10683961-sun.html
Photos of Val's release ... courtesy of Carly who originally posted the story but we lost the link ...
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/08/30/10680866.html
Alison:
--- Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on December 18, 2009, 17:43 ---Yes all the organizations that were bequeathed birds were reputable, licenced and had long histories or at least their people did. And yes, if the bird is to be used for education or as an ambassador or whatever, the organization, centre and staff have to be fully qualified. Just because a peregrine is in captivity doesn't mean they aren't still afforded legal protection from the various levels of government.
--- End quote ---
That's good to know. I do hope that CPF has increased its level of security; I remember a few years ago when one of their peregrines, Tarah, was stolen.
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