Rules set for wild peregrine falcons

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Tuesday, March 19, adopted seasons and rules that allow the annual capture of two wild peregrine falcons to be used for falconry.

Rules allow the take of nestling or juvenile wild peregrine falcons during open seasons from 2013 through 2015. The capture season runs from May 1 to Aug. 31.

Peregrine falcons have been used in falconry for more than 3,000 years, beginning with nomads in central Asia. Captured wild migratory peregrines were used regularly by North American falconers from 1938 to 1970 when the species was added to the federal list of threatened and endangered wildlife and plants.

A successful recovery program was aided, in collaboration with Boise's Peregrine Fund, Fish and Game, and federal agencies, by the effort and knowledge of falconers through a technique called "hacking," the release of a captive-bred bird from a special cage at the top of a tower or cliff ledge.

That program helped bring back the peregrine. The most recent three-year intensive statewide survey of peregrines in Idaho, conducted in 2012, identified 51 known territories, 45 of which were monitored and 26 found to be occupied. Twenty pairs successfully fledged 46 young.

The peregrine was removed from the endangered species list in 1999. Until 2004, nearly all peregrines used for falconry in the United States were captive-bred from the offspring of birds captured before the Endangered Species Act was enacted.

Capture permits will be allocated by random drawing. No more than two permits will be issued annually.

Idaho resident falconers with a master class license may apply for either permit, but not both, along with a $6.25 nonrefundable application fee. The application period is March 15 - April 15. Successful applicants will be notified by April 25. Successful permit holders must wait two years before applying for another capture permit.