By 1975, the population reached an all-time low of 324 nesting pairs in North America. The banning of DDT made the recovery of the peregrine falcon possible. But the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act and the extraordinary partnership efforts of the Service and state wildlife agencies, universities, private ornithological groups, and falcon enthusiasts accelerated the pace of recovery through captive breeding programs, reintroduction efforts and the protection of nest sites during the breeding season. Similar efforts took place in Canada, where the Canadian Wildlife Service and provincial agencies took the lead in a major captive breeding and reintroduction program. Currently, there are at least 1,650 American peregrine breeding pairs in the United States and Canada, well above the overall recovery goal of 631 pairs.
Arctic peregrines are even more abundant.
One management plan will address the take of peregrine falcon nestlings in the United States. The other will address the take of immature peregrines that originate in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, and migrate through the contiguous United States. The plans will be developed cooperatively by the Service and the States. The plan for migrant birds also will require cooperation with the governments of Canada, Greenland, and Mexico. Once the plans are completed, the States will be responsible for managing the species within the framework of the plans.