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[**Appendix C2 Monitor the Recovery of Peregrine Falcons on the Channel
Islands**](#__RefHeading___Toc98570472) **C2-1**

[C2.1 Goals and Nexus to Injury C2-1](#goals-and-nexus-to-injury)

[C2.2 Background C2-1](#background)

[C2.3 Project Description and Methods
C2-1](#project-description-and-methods)

[C2.4 Environmental Benefits and Impacts
C2-2](#environmental-benefits-and-impacts)

[C2.5 Likelihood of Success/Feasibility
C2-3](#likelihood-of-successfeasibility)

[C2.6 Evaluation C2-3](#evaluation)

[C2.7 Budget C2-3](#budget)

Appendix C2

Monitor the Recovery of Peregrine Falcons on the Channel Islands

### Goals and Nexus to Injury

The goal of this project is to monitor the recovery of peregrine falcons
on the Channel Islands. Data collected in 1992 in the Southern
California Bight demonstrated severe (\>15 percent) eggshell thinning in
peregrine falcons (Kiff 1994). Peregrine falcons were extirpated from
the Channel Islands by the mid 1950s, largely due to DDT contamination
that led to eggshell thinning and reproductive failure (Kiff 2000).

### Background

Section C1.2 of Appendix C1 (Restore Peregrine Falcons to the Channel
Islands) provides a description of the background, recovery, and current
status of the peregrine falcon on the Channel Islands.

### Project Description and Methods

This action involves the development of a monitoring program to
determine the extent and the factors affecting peregrine falcon recovery
on the Channel Islands. Although it is known that peregrine falcons are
increasing on the Channel Islands, a comprehensive survey has not been
undertaken since the early 1990s; thus, the current distribution and
number of breeding pairs is not fully known. For example, peregrine
falcons were only recently confirmed (in 2004) to be breeding on Santa
Catalina Island as a result of focused surveys funded by the Natural
Resource Trustees for the Montrose case(Trustees). Also unknown is the
extent to which (if any) the recovery of peregrine falcons on the
Channel Islands is being affected by ongoing contamination in the food
web. Some pairs may still be experiencing reduced productivity due to
eggshell thinning, as may be the case with the pair on Santa Barbara
Island that has not produced fledglings since nesting began in 1995
(PBRG 2004).

This action proposes to develop a comprehensive program to monitor the
recovery of the peregrine falcon on the Channel Islands. At a minimum,
this program will monitor the distribution, number of pairs, and
reproductive success (i.e., productivity) of peregrine falcons on the
Channel Islands. An essential part of this program will be contaminant
analysis of addled eggs and the measuring of eggshell fragments,
particularly in light of the lack of current data on levels of eggshell
thinning and the potential ongoing effect of DDT contamination. The need
to monitor additional parameters such as recruitment, foraging behavior,
and dispersal will be assessed and prioritized during the development of
the monitoring plan. The monitoring program will be designed so that the
program data are comparable to previous studies on the islands (such as
the study conducted in 1992). Standard monitoring protocols will be
used. For example, egg and eggshell samples will be collected according
to established protocols in a manner consistent with previously
collected data. The scope of the monitoring program (including frequency
and intensity) will be developed in consultation with experts.

The Monitoring Plan for the American Peregrine Falcon (USFWS 2003) will
be considered during the development of this program. One focus of the
monitoring plan will be the persistence of environmental contaminants,
such as DDTs, and the need to continue to monitor levels in the
peregrine falcon population. The monitoring plan for this project will
be consistent with the regional monitoring plan to enable comparisons of
the relative levels of contamination on the Channel Islands with other
sites in the region.

### Environmental Benefits and Impacts

#### Biological

Benefits

Due to the lack of focused surveys for peregrine falcons on the Channel
Islands, the current status of this species is unknown. A monitoring
program will provide information on territory occupancy, nest success,
and productivity. These measures are all indicators of population health
and are important to understanding the long-term recovery of this
species on the Channel Islands. The monitoring data will inform natural
resource managers of potential threats to peregrine falcon recovery and
will thereby enable improved management of this species on the Channel
Islands.

As top predators of their food chain, peregrine falcons are an excellent
indicator species of the overall health of the ecosystem in which they
live. The monitoring of egg contaminant levels in peregrine falcons will
provide valuable information on the overall levels of contamination in
the environment.

Impacts

A monitoring program will not result in significant impacts to the
biological environment. Peregrine falcons pairs may be temporarily
disturbed during certain monitoring activities (e.g., entering the nest
to collect eggshell fragments or band young); however, the majority of
the observations will be from a distance and will not disturb peregrine
falcons. The monitoring plan will also consider the presence of seabird
nesting colonies and avoid and minimize any impacts to nesting areas
during the monitoring.

#### Physical

Benefits

This action will have no known benefits to the physical environment.

Impacts

This action will have no known impacts to the physical environment.

#### Human Use

Benefits

The recovery of the peregrine falcon to the Channel Islands provides
both aesthetic and recreational benefits to visitors of the islands.

Impacts

This action will have no known impacts to human uses.

### Likelihood of Success/Feasibility

The feasibility of this project is high. Similar monitoring programs
have been developed and established monitoring protocols are available
for peregrine falcons. The monitoring plan will be consistent with
previous peregrine falcon monitoring efforts on the Channel Islands and
the Monitoring Plan for the American Peregrine Falcon, as described in
Section C2.3.

### Performance Criteria and Monitoring

A monitoring plan for this program will be developed using established
protocols. The plan will be consistent with regional peregrine falcon
monitoring efforts.

### Evaluation

The Trustees have evaluated this action against all screening and
evaluation criteria developed to select restoration actions and have
concluded that this action is consistent with these selection factors.
Although the number of breeding pairs of peregrine falcons and the
number of islands that they occupy have increased, the current status of
the peregrine falcon on the Channel Islands is unknown. This monitoring
program will be used to detect changes in the status and distribution of
peregrine falcons on the Channel Islands. Because peregrine falcons are
superior indicators of environmental health and ecological integrity,
the monitoring program will provide valuable information about the
presence of contamination within the Channel Islands ecosystem and the
Southern California Bight. After considering the results of the
monitoring, the Trustees may decide to proceed with active restoration
activities on the Channel Islands in Phase 2 of the restoration program.

### Budget

For the purposes of this Restoration Plan, the Trustees have estimated
the costs of two comprehensive monitoring events (including surveys and
contaminant analysis) that will occur within Phase 1 of implementation.
However, the scope and extent of the monitoring program will determine
the ultimate budget for this project. Thus, this budget may be adjusted
once the objectives and parameters of the monitoring program are more
clearly defined.

The estimated budget for 1 year of monitoring is as follows:

-   Labor \$82,000

-   Supplies and equipment \$7,000

-   Transportation \$24,000

-   Contaminant analysis \$12,000

-   **Total cost per year \$125,000**

**Estimated amount needed\
for 2 years of monitoring: \$250,000**