Peregrine Banding #newjerseyfishandwildlife #falcons #wildlife

Did you know the peregrine falcon is the planet’s fastest bird? When hunting, they can attain dive speeds over 200 M.P.H.! They typically live on cliff sites and tall man-made structures like bridges and buildings.

The peregrine falcon is an endangered species in New Jersey. They were extirpated east of the Mississippi River by the 1960s because of the pesticide DDT. During the 1970s and ‘80s, NJ Fish & Wildlife participated in a recovery program that released hundreds of captive-bred falcons in the eastern US. Today, peregrines remain threatened by environmental contaminants and human disturbance and still rely on active management for successful nesting. NJ Fish & Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) staff annually monitor peregrine nest sites and band young chicks when they are 3-4 weeks old. Data on nest occupancy and success, plus banded bird resightings, help staff monitor the status and trend of the state’s peregrine falcon population.

#NewJerseyFishAndWildlife #EndangeredSpecies #NewJersey #Peregrinefalcons #Falcons