Peregrine Falcons Begin Nesting Season in Ohio

Internet users can follow the season's progress at wildohio.com

COLUMBUS, OH - The 2009 peregrine falcon nesting season is underway in Ohio, following the March 11 appearance of an egg in a nest at the Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland.
Internet users can follow the progress of this and other peregrine nests at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife's peregrine falcon Web page at wildohio.com.
 
By April, most of Ohio's peregrine falcons will have chosen or re-bonded with a mate and selected a nesting site. As the nesting season progresses, key events such as egg laying, hatching and fledging will be noted on the Web page for each nest.
 
Additional nests are expected at sites in Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Akron, Toledo and several other communities within the next month.
 
Because of nesting success in Ohio and across the nation, the peregrine falcon was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999; it is listed as threatened in Ohio, downgraded from endangered in 2008.
 
Along with several other Midwestern states, Ohio began introducing the birds in 1989. Several pairs were released in cities between 1989 and 1992. Last year in Ohio, 21 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons are estimated to have successfully hatched and fledged 65 young. An estimate was made because actual counts were unavailable for five nesting attempts.
 
Federal funds for the peregrine falcon project and other wildlife diversity efforts of the Division of Wildlife are provided through the State Wildlife Grant Program, which targets species with greatest conservation need.
 
The Division's peregrine falcon management program is funded by the sale of cardinal license plates and by contributions to the state Wildlife Diversity & Endangered Species Check-off Fund. Taxpayers may donate directly or designate all or part of their state income tax refunds to the effort by checking the box on line 27 of the 2008 Ohio Income Tax Form or line 19 on the Ohio 1040 EZ form. Donations can also be made online at wildohio.com. Click on Falcon Watch 2009 and then the column on the right side of the page.
 
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
 

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For further information, contact:
Damon Greer, ODNR Division of Wildlife
330. 644. 2293
Vicki Ervin, ODNR Division of Wildlife
614. 265. 6325
Beth Ruth, ODNR Media Relations
614. 265. 6860