Celebrating 30 Years of Peregrine Falcons at Precipice

Peregrine Falcons have been taking to Acadia's skies for 30 years. Ashley Conti, Friends of Acadia, NPS

Peregrine Falcon Quick Facts

• Historic Nickname: Duck Hawks
• Name Meaning: “Wandering Falcon”
• Max Speed: Over 200 mph (321 kph)
• Size: Wingspan of 29 - 47 inches (74 - 119 cm), roughly crow-sized
• Prey: Primarily songbirds and some seabirds, small mammals

Peregrine Falcons have inhabited the steep cliffsides of Acadia since their reintroduction to the park in 1985. Emma Forthover, Friends of Acadia, NPS

Peregrine falcons are very special residents of Acadia National Park. Not only are they fascinating birds with extreme adaptations, but fascinating and extreme efforts were made to save their presence in this park. Like many other bird species in the 1950’s, peregrine falcon populations nationwide were decimated by the use of DDT, a chemical pesticide. The effects of DDT spread through ecosystems, inspiring people to successfully call for its prohibition.

After learning that peregrine falcons were extirpated (locally extinct) in the eastern United States, Cornell University began a massive effort to reintroduce the species in 1972. The reintroduction used a process called “hacking,” which involved captive breeding of peregrine falcons from all over the world. Wildlife biologists monitored the eggs as they hatched in incubators. The young chicks were placed on cliffsides while inside “hack boxes.” Once the young grew to fledgling age, the biologists opened the boxes and the birds took to the sky – carrying hopes of them imprinting on the mountain and thus returning to the park to lay their own eggs.

Acadia National Park was selected as a priority hacking site in Maine due to its number of cliffs and historic nesting sites. Between 1984 and 1986, 22 chicks were released at Jordan Cliffs. Fast forward to the year 1991. Acadia National Park biologist Bruce Connery waits patiently to see if any of the released chicks will return. A young male named Ganesh, who was released in 1986, has already returned for a few seasons but has yet to produce any offspring. But during the spring of 1991 he returns and his mate lays eggs – the first successful nest in Acadia since 1956!

Park Ranger Daniel McDermott explains Peregrine nesting strategies to some excited visitors. Lily LaRegina, Friends of Acadia, NPS

Peregrine Falcons in 2021

So here we are, in the year 2021, celebrating our 30th anniversary of nesting peregrine falcons in Acadia! This year, three breeding pairs made their homes on Acadia’s grand cliffs: one near Valley Cove Trail (west of Somes Sound), one near Jordan Cliffs Trail (west of Jordan Pond), and one near Precipice Trail (on the east facing side of Champlain Mountain). Two chicks from each pair survived to fledge and are, as of late August, still flying the skies near where they were born.

The Peregrine Falcon Watch program, staffed by Acadia National Park since 1994, remains one of Acadia’s most popular visitor experiences. This year, the program was held every weekday from 9am-12pm (weather permitting) at Precipice Trailhead and was offered from late May through the end of July. During that time we spoke with over 4,500 visitors: families, junior rangers, experienced birders, tour groups, hikers, first-timers, climbers, and many more! The program is for all ages and birding experience. Staff members not only connect visitors to this remarkable sight, but also help monitor the falcons, keeping track of their behavior and development.

Visitors had the opportunity to look through spotting scopes to view Peregrine Falcons, like this young visitor assisted by Park Ranger Alex Ennes. Lily LaRegina, Friends of Acadia, NPS

Peregrine Falcon Watch Program Grows

With so many visitors, it was essential to have two rangers at each program. One ranger focused on interpretation and helping people use the scopes, while the other redirected traffic from the Precipice Trail and answered visitors’ questions. The increase in rangers dedicated to the program (up to 7 total rangers this summer from 2 rangers in previous seasons) helped accommodate larger crowds during this unusually busy summer.

Also new this year was the addition of specialized equipment and educators from Friends of Acadia (FOA). FOA staff installed a spotting scope that transmitted images to a large television screen. This created an opportunity for large groups to simultaneously see live images of the birds, and also made viewing easier for people who had difficulty using the spotting scopes (most notably young children and visitors with visual impairments). FOA staff members also helped answer questions and chatted with visitors, which made the program even more enjoyable.

Peregrines have been soaring through Acadia's skies for thirty years. Ashley L. Conti, Friends of Acadia, NPS

The Peregrine Falcon Watch team had an excellent 2021 season connecting visitors from around the world to these fascinating animals. Peregrine falcons in Acadia have come a long way since their reintroduction here in the 1980s. Whether it's the wildlife biologists who carefully raised chicks in cliffside boxes and waited patiently for Ganesh's successful nest in 1991 or the visitors who watch the falcons swoop and dive today, the emotion is certainly the same: wonder at these amazing animals and their lives in Acadia.

More on birds in Acadia

• Celebrating 30 Years of Peregrine Falcons at Precipice — Rangers reflect on the growth of the Peregrine Falcon Watch Program on the 30th anniversary of the successful reintroduction of peregrine falcons in Acadia National Park.
• Riding the Winds: Hawk Watch in 2025 — Check back for weekly updates about the number of raptors soaring over Cadillac Mountain each fall and learn about the importance of this migration.
• Riding the Winds: Hawk Watch in 2024 — My name is Sara, and I am here with the SCA (Student Conservation Association) as the Raptor Intern at Acadia National Park. I am assisting in the Hawk Watch program and will be providing updates on our 30th season of Hawk Watch as I write the “Riding the Winds” blog.
• View from the Aerie: Peregrine Falcon Watch in 2025 — Check back for weekly updates on the development of peregrine falcon chicks nesting in cliffs above the Precipice Trailhead parking area in Acadia National Park, Maine.
• Dark Night, Safe Flight — At night, birds use the stars to find their way. But bright lights from buildings can confuse them. That's why national parks are so important - they're like bird hotels! They give birds safe places to rest and eat, especially after flying across the ocean.
• Inventory & Monitoring Partnerships Aim to Improve Park Forest Health from Coast to Coast — From coast to coast, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division is helping park managers improve the health and function of forest ecosystems. From promoting resilient forests in the Northeast, to conserving whitebark pine in the West, to protecting Hawaiian forest birds from avian malaria, scientific partnerships are helping parks to share information, leverage funding sources, and work together for outcomes that extend beyond what any park could accomplish on its own.
• View From the Aerie: Peregrine Falcon Watch in 2024 — Check back for weekly updates on the development of peregrine falcon chicks nesting in cliffs above the Precipice Trailhead parking area in Acadia National Park, Maine.
• Riding the Winds: Hawk Watch in Acadia National Park 2023 — Acadia National Park annually participates in a Hawk Watch to document the migration of raptors as they pass over Cadillac Mountain. The Hawk Watch is conducted in partnership with the Schoodic Institute and is one of over 300 sites across North America that identify and quantify migratory raptors including hawks, osprey, eagles and falcons.
• My Park Story: Megan Spina — Read Megan's park story of interning with the Student Conservation Association at Devils Postpile National Monument and later as a Scientists in Parks at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
• View From the Aerie: Peregrine Falcon Watch in 2023 — Follow along with the peregrine falcons growing up on the Precipice cliffs here in Acadia National Park. Acadia's raptor intern writes weekly updates to keep you informed on this pair and they continue the success of nesting peregrines in the park after recovering from collapsed populations.

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