Falcons Return

Peregrine Falcon Door County Dolomite Cliffs

Photo by Melody Walsh

During this ‘Year of the Bird,’ aptly named for the centennial of the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act, conservation work has no better symbol of success than the Peregrine Falcon. The use of pesticides like DDT in the 1950s and 60s caused the falcon to become an endangered species over much of its range. Efforts to breed and reintroduce birds into the wild led to their overall recovery. Though the Peregrine Falcon was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species list in 1999, they had not been confirmed in Door County until 2015. Read more on page 14.

Peregrine Falcons Return to Door County

2017, Two fledglings, about 21 days old

Photo by Melody Walsh

2018, Fledglings at 3 days old

Photo by Melody Walsh

The last successful nesting peregrine falcons were documented sometime in the late 1950s. Greg Septon, founder of the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Project, began to reintroduce the Peregrine falcon to Wisconsin by releasing captive-raised young in 1986. Since 1992 the population of peregrines has naturally rebounded—and now they are nesting on Door County’s cliffs!

2018, Fledglings at 21 days old

Photo by Melody Walsh

Citizen scientists Melody Walsh and Randy Holm of Washington Island sighted a male peregrine flying solo in 2015, but the following year the bird had attracted a young mate. In 2017, the pair fledged two young, pictured top left. And in 2018, the pair fledged four more, pictured below left at three days old, below at 21 days, and right at about six weeks. Melody and Randy are volunteers and citizen scientists with several organizations including Door County Land Trust. Their work as citizen scientists helps track the health of the peninsula and islands.

2018, Four young Peregrine Falcons, about 6 weeks old

Photo by Melody Walsh