Falcon may fly off threatened species list

EDMONTON — For the first time in four decades, a bird known for its speed could be removed from the list of threatened species in most of Canada.

The peregrine falcon, which can fly at speeds up to 320 kilometres per hour, was listed as endangered in 1978. At the time, there was only one active nest east of the Rocky Mountains and south of the 60th parallel, and the northern population was also struggling.

Its numbers have increased steadily to 600 birds in southern Canada and 1,500 in northern Canada after a ban on DDT, a toxic pesticide. There has also been a captive breeding program in the southern population that has helped in the bird’s recovery.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada is now recommending to the federal government that the peregrine be de-listed as a threatened species.

“It’s impressive,” said Marcel Gahbauer, a bird expert with the committee.

“We always have all of these things being added to the list, and even this time around we had other species that are not doing well, so to have one that has the reverse trajectory is very welcome and unfortunately more unusual than we would like it to be.”

The bird is still considered a species of special concern on the Pacific coast.

The committee assessed a total of 44 species during this year’s meetings, held last week in Ottawa. Of those, it says 14 are endangered, nine are threatened and 10 are of special concern. Eleven were deemed not at risk.