What Parks Do in Addition to Restoration Projects

Sadly the peregrine still faces challenges. Beginning in the late 1980's and accelerating between 1992 and 1996, the productivity of peregrines in Big Bend National Park fell to low levels. Though drought was initially suspected as the cause and may play a role, research that began in 1997 revealed that the persistent and toxic compounds, selenium, mercury, and DDE (a breakdown product of DDT) are accumulating in the food chain along the Rio Grande where Big Bend is located and may be implicated in the low productivity of peregrines in the park. The park is searching for solutions.

In addition to research to ensure the long-term survival of peregrine falcon populations, some parks conduct monitoring of territory occupancy and reproductive success. Other steps parks are taking to provide assistance to the peregrine include closures of trails, climbing routes, campsites, and restriction of river runners to non-motorized craft near nesting sites during the nesting season. Yukon-Charley National Preserve requests that air taxis maintain a lateral distance of at least ½ mile from river bluffs, which may be nesting sites for peregrine falcons.