Abstract
During 1995, provincial/territorial/federal wildlife agency personnel and volunteers conducted the sixth Canada-wide Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus survey. This survey covered the largest number of anatum populations to date and resulted in a larger number of occupied anatum territories and territorial anatum pairs than found in any of the previous surveys. The largest increases took place in Ontario and in central and southern Alberta, where mass reintroductions of captive-raised young had occurred yearly since 1992.
North of 58°N, the Mackenzie Valley and Yukon River populations had average annual growth rates indicating stability. These are the largest and longest surveyed populations in Canada. Although the Southern Lakes population of the Yukon Territory disappeared during the 1970s, a pair reoccupied a historic (known) site in 1995 and success fully fledged three young. The northern Alberta population, which had an average annual growth rate of 21%, has been managed since 1975, and surveys of additional nesting habitats resulted in five new territories.
South of 58°N, the British Columbia anatum population has recovered. In central and southern Alberta, 12 pairs occupied sites, but only three pairs successfully fledged young. In Saskatchewan, two pairs reoccupied the two known city sites in Regina and Saskatoon and successfully fledged young. Similarly, in Manitoba, four pairs occupied city sites in Winnipeg and Brandon, but only two pairs successfully fledged young.
The Ontario population reoccupied seven historic (known) sites in addition to eight new sites, and 10 pairs successfully fledged young. In southern Quebec, pairs occupied 13 sites and singles two sites. Ten pairs successfully fledged young. In the Maritimes, five sites in New Brunswick and one site in Nova Scotia were occupied. This latter site was the first site occupied by a territorial pair in Nova Scotia in over 40 years. In Labrador, peregrines reoccupied 20 of 31 known sites, and surveys of additional nesting habitats located 11 new sites.
Within the tundrius populations, the Yukon North Slope population may be experiencing a recovery from its demise in 1970. Only a single adult was seen in 1990, but surveys between 1990 and 1995 located four occupied territories. During the 1995 survey, an additional occupied territory was found. In the Northwest Territories, which included Nunavut, populations appear stable. Coastal pealei populations in British Columbia, including Langara Island, appear stable.
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