Photo 1    Aplomado falcon (immature), 12-02-98, Padre Island National Seashore, by Bill Beasley of Corpus Christi, TX
Photo 2    Aplomado falcon (immature), 12-02-98, Padre Island National Seashore, by Bill Beasley of Corpus Christi, TX
Photo 3    Aplomado falcon (immature), 12-02-98, Padre Island National Seashore, by Bill Beasley of Corpus Christi, TX
Photo 4    Aplomado falcon (immature), 12-02-98, Padre Island National Seashore, by Bill Beasley of Corpus Christi, TX
Photo 5    Aplomado falcon (immature), 12-02-98, Padre Island National Seashore, by Bill Beasley of Corpus Christi, TX

Photo 1    Aplomado falcon (immature), 11-28-98, Padre Island National Seashore, by Jim Hailey of Corpus Christi, TX

A Short Overview of the Aplomado Re-Population Program in Texas

by Lee Elliott (used with permission)

This my understanding of the reintroduction effort for Aplomado Falcons in Texas.  I am sure you all will let me know if I have misspoken.

Prior to 1995, Aplomado Falcons last nested in the US in 1952.  Since that time, an effort has been mounted to reintroduce the species using captive bred stock.  In the late 1970's the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute started captive propagation using eight wild caught individuals.  In the late ‘80's, The Peregrine Fund collected seventeen additional  nestlings from Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, and Veracruz to begin captive propagation in earnest.

Pilot releases began in 1985, in South Texas where some of the last known breeding attempts occurred in the U. S..  The program met with varying success due to complications from predators at release sites (particularly Great Horned owls), a fire in the propagation facility, and a disease problem which also affected captive stock.  Once the size of the captive propagation was sufficient, releases were stepped up in 1993, when 26 individuals were released (58% of which reached independence).  By the end of the summer of 1994, 62 falcons had been released in South Texas.

In 1995, an additional 39 individuals were released at or near the Laguna Atascosa NWR.  In 1996, 29 individuals were released on Matagorda Island, Laguna Atascosa and nearby private property. Another 108 falcons were released in 1997, in the same areas. About 70 birds were scheduled for release in the summer of 1998.

Since these releases began, there has been considerable coordination with agricultural interests.  The Cameron County Coexistence Committee was established to develop a dialog between agricultural interests and those interested in reintroducing the falcon.  This Committee has served as a model for resolving similar conflicts surrounding endangered species recovery in other parts of the state.  In addition, The Peregrine Fund realized that to accomplish real recovery of the species in Texas, participation by private landowners would be necessary.  In order to diminish the disincentives associated with the introduction of endangered species on private property, The Peregrine Fund worked with the USFWS to develop a "Safe Harbor" Habitat Conservation Plan.  This provided landowners with assurances relative to future control over land-use on their properties in the event that falcons were released on their property.

In 1995, the first nest (successfully fledging a young) of Aplomados since the 1950's was discovered in Cameron County. Another two nests were found in 1996.  Nesting in 1997 successfully produced a fledged young, bringing the total to 4 established pairs producing 5 young since 1995.  In 1998, three nests were discovered.  Slowly but surely, we will begin to see unbanded Aplomados in the wild.

Lee Elliott
Corpus Christi

(Lee Elliott is a biologist with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). His comments in this article are his own, and in no way reflect any opinion or policy by the TPWD. Excerpted from a 12-03-98 post to the TexBirds ListServ newsgroup.)