In 1979, wildlife officials developed a Peregrine Recovery Plan to restore a self-sustaining population of 175 to 200 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in the eastern United States through a captive propagation and release program. Peregrine falcons from various sources were used as breeding stock. Chicks, hatched and raised in captivity, were gradually released into the wild. The Recovery Program has been very successful. The Chesapeake Bay area has again become important to migrating and nesting peregrines.
Falcons can find an abundance of prey including pigeons, waterfowl and shorebirds.
Many of the birds choose manmade structures for their nest sites. This allows people living or working in urban areas to view these graceful birds. The eastern peregrine population has now reached approximately 160 pairs. Although the captive breeding and release program has been successful, full recovery depends on preserving nesting and wintering habitat and protecting the falcons from predation or capture. With diligence, the peregrine falcon and other rare, threatened or endangered species will remain a part of our Chesapeake Bay heritage.