Date: 3/13/25 9:07 am From: Randall Scheiner <randall.scheiner...> Subject: [ia-bird] Fwd: Status of Peregrine Falcons in Iowa
Looks like last year was better than average.
The last sighting of a bird in Cedar Rapids was in Sep near Brucemore. Has
anyone seen any activity downtown recently?
Best,
Randall Scheiner
Vinton
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Leoschke, Mark <mark.leoschke...>
Date: Wed, Mar 12, 2025, 11:32 AM
Subject: Fwd: Status of Peregrine Falcons in Iowa
To: <nutrush...> <nutrush...>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Klemesrud, Mick <mick.klemesrud...>
Date: Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Subject: Fwd: Status of Peregrine Falcons in Iowa
To: DNR Everyone <dnr-32-everyone...>, DNR ESD EPC Commissioners <
<epccommissioners...>, DNR CRD NRC Commissioners <
<nrc_commissioners...>
Report of Peregrine Falcon Nesting Activity in 2024
*March 12, 2025 *
2024 Peregrine Falcon Nesting Report
------------------------------
[image: Peregrine Falcon and nestlings in nest. Photo by Randy Cook.]
Adult Peregrine Falcon and nestlings sit in a shallow "scrape" that serves
as a nest. Photo by Randy Cook.
------------------------------
Breeding Peregrine Falcons (*Falco peregrinus*) disappeared from Iowa in
the mid-20th Century. Peregrine Falcons historically nested on cliff
ledges, but have also adapted to nest on human-made structures like tall
buildings and bridges. Iowa DNR began a Peregrine Falcon restoration
program in 1989 with 23 birds released in Cedar Rapids followed by another
19 released in Des Moines in 1991. Between 1989 and 2003, a total of 169
birds were released in Iowa feeding into a regional restoration effort that
saw 875 birds released across the Midwest. In 1999, the first pair of birds
nested on their historic nesting grounds along the Mississippi River
bluffs. As of 2024, most of the Peregrine Falcon nesting occurs in the
eastern half of the state in three main environments: Urban, Mississippi
River bluff faces, and energy plant towers.
------------------------------
[image: Statewide map showing 2024 Peregrine Falcon nest locations (15
active, 2 inactive, 2 not monitored).]
Monitoring of nest sites is accomplished by a network of volunteer and
professional surveyors. The Raptor Resource Project monitors and bands a
number of Peregrine nest sites in the northeastern corner of the state.
Several of the nest sites are on power plants which have restricted access
so we rely on employees who not only monitor the nest sites but are often
wonderful stewards for the birds. Surveyors collect data on the nest’s
activity and whether the pair are successful in producing fledglings. Some
opportunistic reports of nesting activity are also accepted if no formal
data are available.
There were a total of 17 nests monitored in 2024 with no new nests
reported. Of these 17 nests, 15 were active and 2 were inactive. Of the 15
active nests, 11 were reported as successful, 2 were reported as failed,
and 2 had no outcome reported. The average number of young produced per
nest with a known outcome was 2.77, a notable increase from last year
(1.92).
------------------------------
[image: Summary of 2020-2024 Peregrine Falcon nesting results]
Summary of 2020-2024 Peregrine Falcon nesting results.
------------------------------
Compared to recent years, 2024 was an above average year for Peregrine
reproduction, with a higher percentage of successful nests (73.3%) than the
previous four years. A minimum total of 36 young fledged from the 11
successful nests, notably higher than 2023 (25 young fledged), and the
average of 2.77 young produced per nest is the highest since 2016.
Though Peregrine Falcon nest success increased in 2024, continued
monitoring is warranted with ongoing disease threats such as Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N12.3.4.4). Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
(HPAI) predominantly affects wild waterfowl and shorebirds but can also be
spread to species that eat waterfowl and shorebird prey, such a Peregrine
Falcons and Eagles. In 2022, the Iowa DNR documented the loss of one
nesting Peregrine to HPAI and in 2023 documented the loss of one Peregrine
that wasn’t a nesting individual. Overall, Iowa’s nesting population of
Peregrine Falcons appears to be stable, with birds generally returning to
historic nesting sites each year, but this recovering population continues
to warrant annual monitoring.
------------------------------
[image: Plot showing the percentage of active and successful Peregrine
Falcon nests (out of total active territories) from 2016-2024.]
The percent of active and successful Peregrine Falcon nests (out of total
active territories) from 2016-2024.
------------------------------
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*Mick Klemesrud, Information Specialist*
Communications, Marketing and Outreach Bureau
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
6200 Park Avenue, Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-490-5690
<mick.klemesrud...>
www.iowadnr.gov
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