Peregrine Falcon Monitoring:
Monitor the Recovery of Peregrine Falcons on the Channel Islands
Background
This project involves a comprehensive program to monitor the recovery of the
peregrine falcon on the Channel Islands. This program monitors the
distribution, number of pairs, reproductive success (i.e., productivity),
recruitment, foraging behavior, and dispersal of peregrine falcons on the
Channel Islands. An essential part of this program also includes contaminant
analysis of addled eggs and eggshell measurements, particularly in light of the
lack of current data on levels of eggshell thinning and the potential ongoing
effect of DDT contamination. In 2007, the first monitoring effort was completed
and another monitoring effort is planned for 2011.
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Project Updates
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During surveys in 2007 on all eight Channel Islands, biologists documented the
status of 35 peregrine falcon territories. Twenty-five territories were active
with resident breeding pairs, including 7 pairs on San Miguel Island, 8 pairs
on Santa Rosa Island, 7 pairs on Santa Cruz Island, 2 pairs on Anacapa Island,
and 1 pair on Santa Barbara Island.
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In 2007, a total of 16 pairs successfully hatched eggs, producing 35 young.
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As part of the effort, eggshell thickness was analyzed for any eggshell
fragments and any fail-to-hatch eggs were also analyzed for DDT contaminant
levels.
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MSRP is planning to conduct a second monitoring survey in 2011.
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