Help Protect Alberta's Peregrine Falcons

Official title: Peregrine falcon recovery plan engagement

Closed Policy & Studies Environment & Climate Natural Resources

Alberta asked for public input on a plan to help peregrine falcons recover. These birds nearly disappeared in the 1970s due to DDT pesticides. Thanks to conservation efforts, there are now 65-75 breeding pairs in the province. The survey gathered feedback on strategies like reducing disturbance at nest sites and monitoring population health.

Why This Matters

Love seeing wildlife in Alberta? Peregrine falcons are a conservation success story—they came back from near extinction. Your input helped shape how the province protects these birds for future generations. If you spend time near rivers or cliffs where they nest, these rules affect what activities are allowed.

What Could Change

The feedback shaped Alberta's official 2021 recovery plan. This means specific rules about staying away from nest sites during breeding season. Monitoring programs will track population health and pesticide levels in eggs. Industry and landowners near nesting areas may face restrictions.

Key Issues

How should human disturbance at nest sites be reduced?
What measures should manage nesting pairs to reduce loss of young?
How should population size be monitored?
Should pesticide residue in non-productive eggs be monitored?

How to Participate

This consultation is now closed. Review the summary of public response to see what Albertans said.
Read the final Alberta Peregrine Falcon Recovery Plan 2021 that resulted from this engagement.

What Happened

Public feedback was collected through a survey from February 19 to March 18, 2019. The input helped finalize the Alberta Peregrine Falcon Recovery Plan published in 2021. The plan addresses four key strategies: reducing human disturbance at nest sites, managing nesting pairs, monitoring population size, and tracking pesticide residue in eggs.