Please submit your concerns and comments to FalconryDEA@fws.gov on the DEA. 

We are in urgent need of your support regarding this situation.  As the title suggests, many of the falcons that are going to be harvested / trapped in the proposed United States Fish and Wildlife’s – (USFW) DEA management plan will be for the taking for private falconry purposes only. A peregrine harvest (of any kind) at this stage here in North America is simply criminal, while the species is still in its recovery in most ALL of the US states and Canadian provinces,,,, and still listed as such for very good reasons. It is a listed SAR –– (species at risk) including its habitat, and still protected by law in both countries federally, and in individual states and provinces here in North America.  The species is either still absent from many parts of it historical breeding places, and or still in recovery as of this date.

Despite this fact, the American Federal government intends to allow a harvest &  trapping under an amended falconry law, one that will circumvent the existing SAR (species at risk laws) in the very states and provinces that protect the bird. While they (the Fed USFW Government) knows that the many of the individual state populations are still very low and still involved in their ongoing recovery efforts, knowing full well that many of these same states do not endorse the ““take or Harvest”” of the resident (state populations) of peregrines.

The US Fish and Wildlife believe that ““this migrant peregrine”” or passage peregrine that they refer to (a passage peregrine is a first year juvenile falcon, as referred to in / by falconry terms) is Free for the taking once it crosses the Canadian boarder into the USA.   Not so as the species is currently protected including its habitat.  This protection, however, is being reviewed and new legislations is being drafted in order for a harvest to take place.  As indicated earlier in this correspondence despite the federal down listing of the peregrine from endangered to threatened, the peregrine still remains an endangered species in MOST ALL of the 48 US states, – (in addition to the all but two of the Canadian provinces.  Many of the individual state wildlife authorities to the south are opposed to a harvest of any peregrines at this time, as they know only too well that their state peregrine populations have not achieved pre DDT population levels, and they still list and protect the peregrine as a species at risk.

Throughout Canada, the peregrine is also still listed as a SAR – species at risk in all of the provinces and territories, (listed as either threatened or endangered), as ongoing recovery efforts are still in motion. Provinces in Eastern Canada such as Nova Scotia have less than 20 territorial pairs in the entire province, and Prince Edward Island is still void of ANY nesting pairs to this date.The proposed USFW harvest focuses on northern produced migrant falcons, and those from Eastern Canadian birds while on their migration to the south as they enter the USA. In one portion of the proposed plan, it specifically outlines the harvest of  “Canadian produced passage peregrines”. The American United State Fish and Wildlife plan is focused on taking / trapping of Canadian produced peregrine falcons, not their own resident state populations despite all of options now being given in the proposal.

To add further insult to the matter, neither the Federal or Provincial Canadian Wildlife authorities were consulted or advised of this harvest management plan, nor was even a “courtesy call” made to ANY Canadian Wildlife authority on this matter, including that of the National Canadian Peregrine Recovery Team that has been involved in the recovery of the species here in Canada for more than 30 years.   

There are other alternatives to the harvesting of these birds.  Year after year breeders in both countries produce more young peregrines than the market demands, and as such end up putting the ““overstocked / surplus birds down””. (The laws won’t allow them to release them to the wild, and with limited pen space and the money and effort to keep, house, feed and care for this ““surplus”” simply does not make them any money.  Why not use these birds for the purposes suggested by the new legislation rather than tempting fate and further endanger the wild – “still in recovery populations”?
The proposed harvest of wild produced peregrines is NOT for their biological benefit and will do nothing to aid in the ongoing recovery efforts of species here in North America.   

This proposed harvest is simply to satisfy the selfish wants or profit, and the further exploitation of our natural flora and fauna.  While the harvest and trapping permits expected to be issued the first year are low and may be insignificant, past experience would indicated that this  harvest would expand dramatically and permits would be increased in following years.  If this law is allowed to be passed – Look out!

While no one is under the illusion that the peregrine falcon is at risk of extinction as the endangered species category / listing suggests, this proposed harvest of the species at this time is simply BAD BIOLOGY, in addition to sending out a very dangerous message to other countries that are currently involved in their own peregrine recovery efforts to reestablish the species in their countries. 

With ongoing new global effects, West Nile, Avian Flu, PBDE”s – (fire retardants), global warming, detrimental human intervention and habitat loss and a host of other environmental contaminants that have a direct affect on the local / regional peregrine populations, a harvest of our wild populations of the species is simply a criminal act!

Please submit your concerns and comments to FalconryDEA@fws.gov on the DEA.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS