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Lake Superior Basin and Northwestern Ontario
Peregrine Falcon Breeding Summary 1996-2006
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Prior to the 1960's, the Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus anatum, was a summer breeding resident of Lake Superior's north shore. This continental subspecies vanished from their rocky eyries, primarily as the result of man's use of agricultural pesticides (DDT and its metabolites) in the environment.In 1973, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the University of Saskatchewan initiated the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program. In 1989, the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources, launched Project Peregrine in an attempt to reintroduce this species to the Superior north shore.
Between 1989 and 1996, a total of 87 young peregrines were hacked at Sturgeon Bay, Ruby Lake, and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Each year since 1990, Peregrine Falcons have been observed on territory in Thunder Bay District and in 1993, successful nesting peregrines were recorded for the first time in the last quarter century. Their return as a breeding species has been credited to active and intensive release programs both in Canada and the United States.
For eight years (1996-2003), Project Peregrine has been conducting an extensive monitoring program of Peregrine Falcons on the Ontario side of the Lake Superior basin. This monitoring program has confirmed that there has been a significant increase in the number of Peregrine Falcons holding territories since the reintroduction programs of 1989-1996. In 2003, there were 38 territories comprised of 34 territorial pairs, and 4 single birds on territory. There was one additional site where Peregrines were reported but a territory could not be confirmed. There was an increase of 5 territories from the 2002 Field Season when 30 pairs and 3 single birds were located.A total of 31 nests were confirmed, and 70 chicks were assumed to have fledged. These numbers are significantly greater than the 23 nests and 51 chicks identified in 2002. The 70 chicks on the Ontario side of Lake Superior also represent the largest number of chicks fledged by State or Province within the 2003 Midwest Peregrine Restoration Program. The banding team banded 46 young peregrines as 16 nest sites, the largest number of young banded in any one year. The eight-year banding total is now 241. The hatching dates of young peregrines in 2003 were between May 27 and June 16 and these dates are consistent with the 2002 dates of May 26 to June 24.
Twenty-nine bird species were identified as prey remains in 2003, with four new prey species (Red Knot, Bufflehead, Broad-winged Hawk and American Bittern) identified. There have now been 58 prey species (55 bird and 3 mammal) collected and identified during the past eight years.
On August 13, 2003, Maureen Dampier, one of Project Peregrine's greatest supporters passed away. Maureen and her husband Jack own the charter boat "Morningstar" based in Nipigon. They had been involved with surveying and banding falcons on Lake Superior since 1990. Each year the banding crew looked forward to banding chicks on the Nipigon River not only because of their hospitality, but also for the enthusiasm and interest that Maureen had for Project Peregrine. Maureen's laughter and love of life will be missed.
Results from Project Peregrine 2002 field season that monitored Peregrine Falcons on the Ontario side of Lake Superior confirmed an increase in the number of peregrines holding territories from 2001. There were 30 territorial pairs, 3 single birds confirmed holding territories and an additional 3 sites where peregrines were reported but territories could not be confirmed. 23 nests were confirmed and 51 chicks were assumed to have fledged. The number of nests and the number of chicks fledged were almost equal to the 2001 results. The banding team banded 38 chicks at 13 nest sites, bringing the 7 year banding total to 195 chicks now banded. Four nests that were confirmed with eggs or young were discovered empty when accessed by a banding team. It is believed that the hot temperatures of late June and early July may have been a factor for nest failure.The banding team once again collected prey remains when nests were accessed to band the chicks. Six new species of birds (Red-breasted Merganser, Gray Jay, Common Goldeneye, Mourning Dove, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Tree Sparrow) were added to the list of prey species (now 54) that have been collected over the past seven years. The hatching dates of the young falcons in 2002 were fairly consistent with the hatching dates of 2001. Hatching took place between May 26 and June 24 (2001 dates May 25-June 14). There were 3 nests that had late hatching dates of June 22-24.
2001 proved to be another exciting year for Project Peregrine. Volunteers who checked cliff sites throughout the Ontario side of the Lake Superior Basin located 25 territorial pairs, 1 single bird confirmed holding territory and 5 other single birds were observed in suitable habitat but no territory was confirmed. Twenty-two nests were confirmed to be successful and at least 52 chicks were known to have fledged. This is the highest number of chicks that were known to have fledged in any year of monitoring by Project Peregrine. An equally successful banding program accessed 16 nests, banded 40 chicks and both these numbers are records for the banding program. After 6 years of banding, a total of 157 young peregrines have now been banded.Peregrine Falcon Eating Habits Studied
Information on what the Peregrine Falcons are eating has also been collected during banding operations. 86 prey remains were collected at 15 nest sites in 2001, with 24 bird species and one mammal species identified. After six years of collecting prey remains, 48 bird species and 3 mammal species have been identified as peregrine food sources.Funding and Volunteers
The Ministry of Natural Resources contributed $2,846.81 from the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program to cover volunteer expenses and $2,882.00 from the Species at Risk Program to supply a helicopter for banding at remote nest sites. The generous donation of helicopter time by TransCanada Pipelines ($3,635.00) and Hydro One Helicopter Services ($2,420.00) enabled Project Peregrine to survey most of the cliffs in the Thunder Bay area for nesting peregrines. Frank Pianka organized climbers from the Alpine Club of Canada, Thunder Bay Chapter to access Peregrine Falcon nests to band young falcons. Everyone involved with Project Peregrine volunteers their time and in 2001, twenty-one people donated more than 600 hours or approximately 76 days. Thanks again to everyone for your contribution of time and funding.
Project Peregrine experienced it's most successful year ever in 2000. A total of 25 territorial pairs of Peregrine Falcons and 6 single birds holding territories were confirmed. One additional pair and single bird were reported but not confirmed within the Lake Superior Basin. These numbers compare to 12 territorial pair and 6 single birds in 1999. Sixteen nests fledged at least 43 chicks and 27 of these chicks were banded at 10 nest sites. There has now been 117 Peregrine chicks banded at cliff nest sites during the past 5 years.Identification of adult birds confirmed for the first time that peregrine chicks banded in previous years were now nesting within the Lake Superior Basin. Two birds, one male and one female both banded in 1997 are now nesting at two new nest sites. The hatching dates of chicks were approximately the same as in 1999. Eighteen species of prey were identified from 10 nest sites. Rock Doves and Cedar Waxwings were the two most common species of prey recorded.
The Ministry of Natural Resources Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program supplied funding for volunteer expenses, and there was a generous donation of helicopter services by TransCanada Pipelines and Hydro One. Once again Frank Pianka and the Alpine Club of Canada offered their climbing expertise to access Peregrine nests to band young falcons.
Project Peregrine was one of the main partners behind the Ontario 2000 Peregrine Falcon Survey. This survey is conducted every five years and it documents population trends and productivity of Peregrine Falcons in Ontario. There were 53 Peregrine territories located during the provincial survey compared to 15 territories located during the 1995 survey. Peregrines are still classified as an endangered species in Ontario, but the future is looking brighter.
24-day-old Peregrine chick being banded
In 1999, Project Peregrine continued to monitor Peregrine Falcon breeding success on the Ontario side of the Lake Superior basin. A total of 12 pairs and 6 single Peregrines holding territories were located. Eleven nests fledged at least 30 chicks, and 20 chicks were banded at 6 nesting sites. A total of 90 chicks and one second year Peregrine have been banded in the past four years. Two band recoveries were reported, one from Florida and the other from Cuba.Identification of adults at nest sites revealed that birds originated from the Lake Superior Basin and Eastern Canada, plus a 12 year old female that was released near Chicago, Illinois. The hatching dates of the chicks were slightly advanced as compared to previous years. Prey remains were collected and identified from 6 nests. Fourteen species of birds were identified with Rock Dove and Ring-billed Gull being the two most common species encountered. Observations of peregrines recorded in this report were from April 3rd to September 20th.
Funding
$2,500.00 was secured from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement program.Donations
• TransCanada Transmissions donated their helicopter for one day of flying to monitor nests.
• Frank Pianka, Alpine Club of Canada, was the lead climber with assistance from Brent Cuthbertson, Lakehead University.
• The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources paid for a helicopter to aid in banding at Pie Island and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
• Fifteen volunteers donated their time to monitor cliff sites and report Peregrines.
The 1998 monitoring program exceeded all expectations as 20 peregrine territories and 14 nests were located on Lake Superior. With assistance from the Sault Naturalists Club and the staff of Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa National Park, five territories and 2 nests were located on the eastern side of Lake Superior, while fifteen territories and 12 nests were located from Nipigon to the Minnesota border on the west side of Lake Superior.A total of thirty-eight young peregrines were observed in the fourteen nests and the banding team was able to band 31 of them at eleven nest sites. This brings our three year total to 70 young peregrines being banded. The banding of these peregrines is only possible due to the assistance and dedication of Robert Dye, Rodney Swatton, and Jodie Allair from Lakehead University School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and Frank Pianka from The Alpine Club of Canada.
Banding young peregrines enables us to identify individual birds and to monitor their dispersal from the nest site. To date, none of the young falcons we have banded have been observed, but as new nest sites are being discovered, an effort is made to identify the adults present. This year (1998) at a new nest site on Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, the female was identified as being released in 1989 from Parc du Bic, Quebec (near Rimouski, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River). It is very exciting to find a banded bird and then to identify where it was banded.
When the climbers are at the nest site, prey remains and feathers are collected so that we can determine what the peregrines are feeding on. During the past three years, 28 species of birds and bats have been identified and the four most common species are Rock Dove, Ring-billed Gull, Evening Grosbeak and Cedar Waxwing. The largest prey species recorded has been the Herring Gull and the smallest was a Red Bat.
A project of this size and scope can only be accomplished with the efforts of many partners. 1998 partners include: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment Canada EcoAction 2000, TransCanada Pipelines, and the Fort William First Nation. A special thank you also goes out to the many volunteers who participated in the "Adopt A Cliff" program and gave freely of their time to monitor peregrine activity.
Photo: Three Peregrine chicks on nest ledge at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
In the fall of 1996, the Canadian Wildlife Service Peregrine Falcon breeding facility at Fort Wainwright, Alberta, was officially closed. With this closure, Project Peregrine would no longer be receiving young falcons for release at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park hack site. Project Peregrine efforts in 1997 would concentrate on surveying for breeding peregrines and banding young falcons at cliff nesting sites.Project Peregrine was able to locate 13 peregrine territories in 1997. Eleven of these territories were on the west side of Lake Superior from Nipigon to the Minnesota border, and 2 additional territories were located on the east side of Lake Superior. Eight pairs of falcons were successful in raising their broods, and a total of 25 young were observed.
Locating these additional peregrine territories was made possible by the new 'Adopt a Cliff' program offered by Project Peregrine. A total of 15 individuals participated in this program where potential cliff nesting sites were monitored for peregrine activity. The "Adopt a Cliff' program will be expanded in 1998, as more volunteers have expressed an interest in participating.
Seven nest sites were accessed, and 23 young were banded. Of special note, there are now as many young falcons being fledged at natural nests each year on Lake Superior as were being released through hacking programs in Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.
In 1996, twelve young peregrines were successfully fledged from two hack boxes located at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Six Peregrine Falcon territories were located in Thunder Bay District: Pie Island (2), Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Nipigon River, Mount McKay and Mount McRae. 4 nests were successful, the nest sites were accessed and 16 young were banded. This banding represented the first time that young peregrines had been banded at cliff sites in Ontario in more than 30 years.
Young Peregrine being hacked at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
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