Since the early 1980s, NH Audubon staff and dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to restore the Peregrine Falcon population in New Hampshire. NH Audubon got involved as federal and state wildlife agencies, along with The Peregrine Fund, were finishing a decade-long effort to release captive-bred falcon chicks and as monitoring of wild-breeding pairs was just starting up. From New England’s first cliff-nesting pair in Franconia Notch in 1981, to roughly 30 breeding territories today (which annually produce dozens of fledglings), NH Audubon has been there to support recovery efforts for more than 40 years!
We work with NH Fish & Game and managers of tall buildings and high bridges to install nesting boxes and trays that give Peregrines a safe place to nest. We work with rock climbing groups and state park and national forest staff to set up temporary recreational closures on climbing routes and scenic overlooks that improve falcon nesting success. We have banded roughly 400 Peregrine chicks in the state, and roughly 25% of those banded have been re-sighted, resulting in hard-to-obtain data on longevity and dispersal. We have been involved in a project that satellite-tracked five of NH’s breeding falcons on migration to their wintering grounds. We have collected dozens of non-viable falcon eggs that have contributed significantly to what is known about PDBEs and other toxins in the region’s Peregrine Falcon population.
The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the federal Threatened and Endangered Species List in 1999, and downlisted from Endangered to Threatened on the New Hampshire T&E List in September 2008. Volunteers can learn more about becoming involved in our ongoing monitoring and management efforts by contacting raptor specialist Chris Martin in the Conservation Department.
Project Leader: Chris Martin
NH Peregrines Continue to Thrive (NH Audubon Winter 2023-24 Afield)
Something Wild Podcast featuring Peregrine Falcons
New Hampshire Audubon is grateful for generous funding recently awarded from the following supporters: NH Audubon received grant awards from the Benjamin and Gertrude Couch Trusts to continue work on
(by Chris Martin) Recently, NH Audubon staff and volunteers wrapped up the 2024 NH Peregrine Falcon breeding season with the following results: 28 territorial pairs, a new state-record high 23
(by Zoe Dawson) On Thursday, May 23, two Peregrine Falcon chicks at the Brady Sullivan Tower in Manchester were examined and banded by New Hampshire Audubon staff members, led by
(by Marc Nutter) At a sold-out professional development conference, NH Audubon’s Project Implementation Specialist, Willa Coroka, took the stage to share invaluable insights and practical strategies. Her presentations aimed to
(by Chris Martin) Manchester’s Brady Sullivan Peregrine Cam is up and running! Exciting things are already happening. The mated pair actively defended their home turf during an annual nest box
New Hampshire Audubon is grateful for generous funding recently awarded from the following supporters: The Knopf Family Foundation awarded NH Audubon a grant to support the management and monitoring of
Photos, from the top: Peregrine Falcon, archive image; female Peregrine Falcon, Brady Sullivan Tower, Manchester, NH, March 2008, photo by Chris Martin.
