Once driven to the brink by DDT, peregrine falcons are disappearing again across multiple continents, with scientists pointing to avian flu as a possible cause but lacking definitive answers.
Evert Lindquist reports for bioGraphic.
In short:
- Researchers report sharp declines in peregrine falcon numbers in at least 11 countries, particularly along coastal areas in North America and Europe.
- Some scientists suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is responsible, as the virus has been spreading among birds and mammals since 2022.
- Efforts to confirm the cause are underway, with researchers in New Jersey and Virginia planning to test peregrine blood for avian flu this breeding season.
Key quote:
“This disease is just going to have to work its way through, and they’re going to have to develop an immunity.”
— Bryan Watts, Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary University
Why this matters:
The peregrine falcon’s recovery was once hailed as a triumph of modern conservation. After the United States banned the pesticide DDT in 1972, these birds of prey — once on the brink of extinction — made a remarkable comeback. But now, researchers have observed a troubling pattern: peregrines are disappearing along coastal regions, where they often hunt migratory birds. That raises the possibility that the HPAI virus, which has already devastated poultry farms and wild bird populations worldwide, is moving up the food chain.
If avian flu is to blame, it could signal broader ecological disruptions, with ripple effects beyond raptors to other predators, scavengers, and even the agricultural sector. For now, scientists are racing to determine the extent of the virus’s reach. If peregrine falcons — once a symbol of resilience — are now at risk, it could mark yet another alarming turn in the global struggle to contain avian flu and its far-reaching consequences.
Related: Industrial animal farms might be influencing bird flu spread
