A pair of peregrine falcons successfully raised two chicks this summer in a nest located deep in the backcountry of Grandfather Mountain. This is the first time in five years that biologists have documented peregrines at Grandfather raising chicks to the point that they could survive on their own.
Peregrine falcons were reintroduced at Grandfather in 1984. Since that time four successful nests have been documented at the Mountain, although it is likely that there have been others that were never discovered.
“Grandfather Mountain is one of the most difficult sites to watch given the complexity of the cliffs and lack of good observation points,” said Chris Kelly, Mountain Wildlife Diversity Biologist for the NC Wildlife Resource Commission. “The mountain is considered a historic peregrine falcon site and peregrines were documented here long before they disappeared from North Carolina in 1958.”
Peregrine falcons were placed on the endangered species list in 1970 when there were fewer than 100 peregrines surviving in the wild in the Eastern US. The Peregrine species dwindled due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. Peregrines exposed to DDT laid eggs that were too brittle to hold the weight of the nesting adults. DDT was banned in 1972 which opened way for the reintroduction of peregrines in Western North Carolina in 1984.
“In the 1980’s reintroduction efforts, Grandfather Mountain was used as an original hacking (release) site for peregrine falcons,” said Jesse Pope, chief naturalist at Grandfather Mountain. “In fact, it was the first place that peregrines were successfully reintroduced to North Carolina in 1984.”
Two chicks were raised in an aerie on a remote cliff at the northern end of Grandfather Mountain. A pair of falcons that had held down territory on Grandfather in the past was spotted in late February. In April, the female was reportedly struck and killed by an automobile off of NC Highway 105. The mature male then paired to a two-year-old female. Pope located their nest in May and Kelly first spotted the female feeding her chicks in June.
“This is a considerable feat given the female’s age and inexperience, combined with the site’s elevation, unprotected ledge, and some of the most severe weather in the mountain region,” Kelly said.
Kelly explained that of the 13 nesting sites in North Carolina, three were populated by juvenile birds. Grandfather Mountain’s juvenile female was the only one to succeed in raising young.
Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal in the world feeding mostly on other birds. They dive down on their prey from high above striking them from the sky at speeds in excess of 200 mph. The animals nest on sheer rock cliffs in isolated locations selected to protect the young from predators and other intruders, particularly those of the human kind.
Pope said that watching this peregrine family develop from its beginning has been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career at Grandfather Mountain.
“It has been amazing to watch them from their courtship through until the chicks were ready to leave the nest,” he said. “I have gotten to see so many fascinating behaviors and hear so many different kinds of vocalization. I don’t even have words to describe how it feels.”
“I have had the chance to watch peregrines nest on Grandfather Mountain in each of the past two years,” he said, “but both times late-winter storms drove the females from the nests. I am thrilled to see these chicks make it this far. It is going to be an exciting summer on Grandfather Mountain now that there are four peregrines flying above these peaks, I’m just looking forward to being able to watch them through the fall migration.”