ABOUT FALCONTRAK

Following the initiation of a reintroduction program in 1978, peregrine falcons nested successfully in Virginia in 1980 for the first time since the DDT era. Since that time, the breeding population has continued to make a slow and steady recovery. Some 20 years later, we still know very little about the ecology of this emerging population. In particular, we know almost nothing about the time period just after fledging. Several questions that are important to the future management of this population remain unanswered. How many of the falcons produced in Virginia survive to reproductive age? What are some of the causes of mortality? How and when do birds disperse from their natal sites? Where do birds produced in Virginia go to breed? Do birds in the Virginia population migrate? If they migrate, where do they spend the winter?

FalconTrak is a cooperative project designed to answer a collection of questions about the movements and survival of Virginia peregrines. The project utilizes satellite telemetry to track young falcons throughout their annual cycle. Solar-powered satellite transmitters will be fitted to the back of peregrines before fledging. These birds will be tracked for a period of 3 years to determine survivorship, movement patterns, and eventual breeding locations.