Prairie and peregrine falcon occupancy and productivity monitoring at Pinnacles National Park: 2022 annual report
Emmons G. 2023. Prairie and peregrine falcon occupancy and productivity monitoring at Pinnacles National Park: 2022 annual report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SFAN/NRR—2023/2502. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2297296
Pinnacles National Park (“Pinnacles”) provides diverse habitats for numerous cliff-nesting raptors, including prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus) and peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus), as well as a spectacular array of summits and cliff-wall routes for rock-climbers. This monitoring program was established to determine long-term trends in the number of occupied territories and productivity of nesting prairie and peregrine falcons. The monitoring program grew out of a need to reduce potential disturbance that climbers and off-trail hikers may have on cliff-nesting raptors. The falcon monitoring program began with a pilot effort in 1984, and after two years of no monitoring efforts in 1985 and 1986, monitoring data have been collected annually from 1987 to the present. This report summarizes the results from the 2022 breeding season and represents the 37th year of monitoring at the park, consistent with the standardized methods and procedures detailed in the Prairie Falcon Monitoring Protocol for Pinnacles National Monument (Emmons et al. 2011). To monitor falcons, field technicians surveyed all potential nest sites three times per breeding season, with visits spaced 21 to 28 days apart. We revisited those nests determined to be active to confirm rearing of nestlings and fledging of young. In 2022, we conducted monitoring from 1 January 2022 until 10 July 2022, with a total of over 150 possible and active nest sites monitored during 850 observation hours. For prairie and peregrine falcons combined, we documented 13 territorial pairs this year, with 13 pairs actively nesting. Thirteen nests successfully fledged 46 young; no nests failed. For prairie falcons specifically, we documented nine territorial pairs, with nine nests successfully fledging 32 young. For peregrine falcons, we documented four territorial pairs, with four nests successfully fledging 14 young. Falcon fecundity for the 2022 season was the highest documented since 2013. The data from 37 years of falcon monitoring at Pinnacles suggest an apparent cyclic population pattern in annual prairie falcon productivity, supplemented by increased peregrine falcon breeding efforts in recent years (Appendix C).
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Emmons, Gavin
- Date of Issue
- 2023-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2297296
- Units
- NRSS , PINN , SFAN
- Keywords
- accipiters, advisories, Annual Report, California, climbing, closures, conservation, eagles, falcon, management, monitoring, monument, national, nesting, occupancy, peregrine, pinnacles, prairie, prairie falcons, productivity, protection, raptor, rock, wildlife
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds