Re-introduction of the Aplomado falcon into Texas and New Mexico, USA

Summary

The northern Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) disappeared from the grasslands of the southwestern United States by 1930 for unknown reasons. The Peregrine Fund established a captive breeding program from 25 falcons collected in southern Mexico between 1978 and 1988, listed the species as endangered in 1986, and began large-scale restoration in 1993 using hacking techniques adapted from peregrine falcon re-introductions. Releases concentrated first at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, chosen for its historic nesting density and extensive unoccupied habitat, before expanding along the Laguna Madre coast and, from 2005, into the trans-Pecos region of West Texas following South Texas's success. A 2002 Safe Harbor agreement under the Endangered Species Act enrolled over 2,176,367 acres of private land in Texas, and a 2006 federal rule allowed a second, disjunct experimental population to be established in New Mexico. In total, 1,506 falcons were produced in captivity and 1,393 released, with 54 artificial nest structures built in South Texas reaching 85 percent occupancy. By 2006, 45 wild pairs were located in South Texas producing 56 fledglings from 33 nests, and a self-sustaining population of roughly 50 breeding pairs was established there, alongside six pairs in West Texas and one in New Mexico. The project rated itself Highly Successful, citing the scale of releases, the self-sustaining South Texas population, and successful use of Safe Harbor and experimental-population provisions to secure both private and government land access.