Author
Geoffrey L. HOLROYD and Ursula BANASCH
Correspondence: Geoff Holroyd, Environment Canada, Room 200, 4999-98 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2X3 Canada. Email: geoffrey.holroyd@ec.gc.ca
Received 22 February 2012 – Accepted 20 August 2012
Abstract
National surveys of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) have been conducted in Canada every five years since 1970. During the eighth survey in 2005, 22 areas in 9 provinces and three territories were searched for the three peregrine subspecies. Within the continental F. p. anatum range, territorial Peregrine Falcons occupied 508 sites. As in previous surveys, the majority of anatum sites (n: 275, 54%) were located in the north-western boreal ecoregion. The number of pairs increased by 107% from 1995 to 2005 in populations south of 58o N. These survey data indicate that the Peregrine Falcon recovery was definitely underway. Some subpopulations had already surpassed their known historic numbers previous to this survey, and were probably approaching ecological carrying capacity. Productivity of all anatum populations surveyed averaged 1.4 young per territorial pair and 2.2 young per successful pair. A comparison of the productivity between anatum populations north and south of 58o N indicates that northern populations averaged 1.0 young per territorial pair and 1.6 young per successful pair while southern populations averaged higher at 1.6 young per territorial pair and 2.5 young per successful pair. Low productivity per territorial pair occurred in Labrador, Bay of Fundy, Alberta north of 58o N, all of the Yukon anatum populations, and Rankin Inlet (F. p. tundrius). These populations need to be monitored to ensure a broader population decline does not occur undetected. The number of F. p. tundrius in 2005 was similar to previous surveys in the Rankin Inlet area but increased by 111% on the Yukon North Slope from 2000. F.p. pealei on the Haida Gwaii appear to have been stable for at least the past two decades. Pealei numbers were stable on most of the west coast but declined on the north shore of Vancouver Island.
Keywords: Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, status; survey, productivity.
4-Vol-1-Issue-1-Holroyd-and-Banasch
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