The skies of New Mexico again are graced by the silhouette of one of the nations most rare and striking raptors following todays release of 11 Northern Aplomado falcons near Truth or Consequences, N.M.
The event, which took place this morning on the 350,000-acre Armendaris Ranch, marks new hope for the birds, listed as federally endangered for the past two decades. The falcons were released when the doors to their "hack" boxes (enclosures atop platform towers), were permanently opened, allowing the birds to come and go at will. The falcons were born in captivity and are being released under a special provision of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Captive-bred falcons will be reintroduced annually during the next 10 years using similar releases.
Northern Aplomado falcons have been successfully reintroduced in Texas, and todays effort will help move the species closer to restoration throughout its historic range in the Southwest.
"There has been a lot of cooperation and collaboration in this project, and I really compliment our partners" said Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Acting Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Southwest Region. "This is a true example of what happens when people have a vision and marshal their forces. It is a testament to all of the Services recovery goals."
"Senator Domenici is pleased to see the partners working together on such a great project," said Callie Gibson, a representative from the Albuquerque offices of U.S. Sen. Peter Domenici. "This project sets a wonderful example for future projects."
The falcon release illustrates the power of cooperative conservation action by private, local, state and federal authorities, including the Armendaris Ranch, owned by Ted Turner; Turner Endangered Species Fund; The Peregrine Fund, an Idaho-based nonprofit; New Mexico Game and Fish Department; and the Service.
Falcons were part of the landscape of the Armendaris many years ago. "When Ted Turner acquired the land, he told me I want you to put it back the way it was," said Tom Waddell, manager of the Armendaris Ranch.
Biologists will provide food on the tower, and initially, the falcons will return each day to feed. Eventually, the falcons will begin chasing prey, making their own kills, and spending more and more time away from the hack site.
A falcon is considered to be "successfully released" when it is no longer dependent on food provided at the hack site. The process generally takes from three to six weeks but can be extended to ensure a successful reintroduction and the birds will be monitored daily. If a bird does not attain independence, it may be returned to The Peregrine Fund propagation facility in Boise, Idaho.
During the mid-1990s, Northern Aplomado falcons had not been sighted in the United States for decades. A small remaining population existed in Mexico. Working together, the Service, The Peregrine Fund, the state of Texas and many other partners, including private landowners who agreed to have birds released on their property, reintroduced the species to Texas in 1995. The state now has a fast-growing population that was created through releases of captive birds like those at todays event. There are 44 pairs that breed and rear their young in coastal and western Texas.
Much of the land in Texas where the birds are found is privately owned, so the Service worked with private landowners to re-introduce falcons using agreements that allow individuals to participate in endangered species recovery. New Mexicos equal mix of private and federal lands called for a different approach. The Northern Aplomado falcons in New Mexico will be considered an experimental, non-essential population. This method allows the Service to introduce falcons into their historic range under more flexible regulations while still ensuring Endangered Species Act protection for the bird.
The Northern Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) once occupied a significant portion of the Southwest. Often hunting cooperatively in pairs, these strikingly beautiful falcons feed on medium-sized birds, insects and bats. Prior to the 1930s, the species was regarded as fairly common throughout the humid coastal savannas interior grasslands of northern Mexico, southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The bird disappeared beginning in the 1930s for undetermined reasons, possibly due to changes in its habitat.
The Service has supported The Peregrine Fund with grant monies under its Private Stewardship Grant program. More than $530,000 in grants has been awarded since 2003. Sen. Peter Domenici sponsored $150,000 this year which boosts federal financial support for northern aplomado falcon reintroduction and recovery to $682,064.
Visit the Services website at http://www.fws.gov.
- http://www.fws.gov/southwest-
