Peregrine Flap Could Fly High

The three female peregrine falcon chicks that hatched in a nest under the Sunset Highway bridge fledged a few days ago. If they survive until they’re adults, they and their parents may hunt pigeons and other birds in the Spokane area.

Although two of them flew out of their nest, the two were still on the ground when a rainstorm hit the city late last week. They may not have survived.

In a way, the down-covered birds are luckier than many peregrine chicks in England. People who want peregrine falcons, as well as other birds of prey, to remain part of Britain’s wildlife are locked in an all-out war with bird hunters and pigeon racers who not only want raptors eliminated; they help things along by destroying nests.

Could what has happened in England occur in the Northwest, once peregrines become plentiful?

Among those carrying on the battle for raptors in England is Terry Pickford, one of the leaders in the 30-year campaign to restore peregrines and other raptors to the British landscape. Pickford and other raptor supporters have been battling the Duke of Westminster, one of the richest and most powerful men in England, and other landowners who don’t want to share grouse with peregrines.

My wife and I became acquainted with Pickford while we were in England about 10 years ago. Pickford already was deeply involved with restoring peregrines to their former numbers when he took us on a “safari” to see peregrine and golden eagle nests in England’s Lake district.

Pickford told us he and many other Brits had succeeded in establishing numerous peregrine nests and that the peregrines were making a comeback from a post-World War II low. At the same time, we learned that hunters and pigeon racers were destroying nests.

Since our visit, by visiting Pickford’s Web site (www.raptor.uk.com), I learned raptor supporters have been remarkably successful.

When Pickford and others started their campaign to rebuild England’s peregrine population, there were only seven known breeding pairs in the country. Peregrines were shot and their nests destroyed during the war because they intercepted and ate homing pigeons that were carrying secret messages from Europe to England. Peregrines began to recover after the war, but the population collapsed again as the use of DDT increased.

Now, the peregrine has attained almost saturation density in many areas, and in some parts of northern England, the population has the greatest density in the world.

In fact, an article on the Internet site says that, in the Forest of Bowland, “it is now commonplace to find peregrine eyries established on the ground in deep heather.

“This nesting abnormality has resulted from the sustained disturbance and destruction by gamekeepers of the few traditional rock nesting sites. Fortunately for the peregrine, such ground nesting sites are very difficult for gamekeepers to locate.”

Believing Northwest pigeon racers and hunters probably will become concerned if peregrine numbers increase dramatically here, I contacted Pickford by e-mail and asked about his experiences.

Although it’s against the law in England to kill raptors or destroy their nests, he said, hunters and racing pigeon owners continue to wage an all-out war against the raptors.

“The problem is that politics and money are at the root of the peregrine’s problems,” he said. “Powerful moorland landowners see all raptors as a threat to their selfish shooting interests. They will not under any circumstances allow birds like the hen harrier or peregrine or goshawk to breed in peace on property they own.”

So far, according to Madonna Luers, spokesperson for the Spokane regional office of the Fish and Wildlife Department, neither pigeon owners nor hunters have expressed reservations about the program to rebuild the peregrine population in Washington.

The Washington FWD, in cooperation with other agencies, has had some success rebuilding the peregrine population. In 1980, there were only two known nesting pairs. Last year, Luers said, 46 pairs produced 64 young, including one in Spokane. There are now 58 nest sites in the state.

If they survive, will the three chicks from under the Sunset Highway bridge return to Spokane after spending the winter somewhere in the South? The first three to hatch in Spokane didn’t.

Eventually, as the result of the population rebuilding efforts, peregrines, the fastest of the raptors, may become a common sight again. It’s then that, like in England, their nests may be destroyed.