| Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
was listed as endangered in 1984, and delisted in 1999. The native breeding
population of the peregrine falcon in the eastern United States was wiped
out by the mid-1960s, primarily due to effects of DDT. The true eastern
peregrine falcon is extinct. A new population was established from captive-bred
birds of different subspecies reintroduced into the environment. The Hudson
River - New York Bight watershed supports about one-sixth of the entire
eastern peregrine population, including pairs nesting on towers and buildings
along the New Jersey coast and pairs nesting on bridges and buildings in
the metropolitan New York City area. The re-established peregrine falcon
population is now at a point where it is thought to be able to sustain
itself, and the emphasis of future recovery efforts will be on habitat
protection. Protecting existing nest sites and potential habitat to accommodate
increasing peregrine falcon population levels is critically important.
Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
was listed in 1978 as endangered in most of the lower United States. Bald
eagle populations have been growing, in 1995 this species was downlisted
to threatened in all of the contiguous United States, and was delisted in 2007.
Bald eagles nest and winter in the Connecticut River watershed and in the Hudson
River - New York Bight watershed, requiring shallow water, salt marshes, adjacent
uplands, and coastal lagoons and river habitats. Known and potential nesting
and wintering habitat needs to be identified and protected from destruction
and disturbance, because disturbance at roosting and nesting sites seems
to affect eagle survival and reproductive success. As fish eaters, bald
eagles are also impacted by changes and contaminants in fish populations.
DDT devastated eagle populations in the 60s; investigation now must be
made into the impacts of other contaminants, including PCBs.
Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
The Atlantic Coast population of the piping plover was listed as threatened
in January 1986. Piping plovers are small, North American shorebirds that
return to their breeding areas on Atlantic Coast beaches in late March
to early April, where they nest on sand and cobble coastal beaches. At
present, the population is increasing slowly. Threats include people walking
and driving on beaches; predation by gulls, crows, foxes, feral dogs and
cats, and other animals; habitat loss or degradation; oil spills; and beach
stabilization and development.
Roseate tern (Sterna dougalli dougalli)
The northeastern population of the roseate tern was listed as endangered
in November 1987. As of 1995, the northeastern population was considered
relatively stable, with about 3,400 nesting pairs distributed from New
York to Maine and in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. The largest threat
to roseate tern is the loss of nesting sites; 85% of the birds nest on
just two islands in the Northeast. These sites are important to the recovery
goal of increasing the roseate nesting population to 5,000 pairs distributed
in at least six large colonies and, eventually, to 8,500 pairs nesting
in at least 30 sites. Protecting existing nesting sites and restoring historical
and potential nesting sites will likely be necessary for full recovery
of roseate terns. |
