A tale of Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis
 |
© Jon Irvine |
My story starts in New Mexico and Texas USA as an English man even the name Aplomado evoked the thought of an exotic falcon similar to my native Peregrine and along the lines of a European Hobby. After many years of travel and finally being wrangled by a wicked cowgirl then bushwacked into buying a piece desert, under the Magdalena mountains.The proud owner of a small patch of New Mexico 164 acres. We were aware of the possibility of a bird finding its way to our little ranch. Constantly vigilant one day whilst driving out to more civilised locations for supplies, over the dirt road the led away from Magdalena mountains we spotted a small raptor flying from Texas end of the property stopping the jeep amidst the usual cloud of dust the bird took a upward swing to a high power cable as the falcon became visible we realized this could be an Aplomado?
 |
| Falco femoralis septentrionalis |
A falcon is considered to be "successfully released" when it is no longer dependent on food provided at the hack site. The process generally takes from three to six weeks but can be extended to ensure a successful reintroduction and the birds will be monitored daily. If a bird does not attain independence, it may be returned to The Peregrine Fund propagation facility in Boise, Idaho.
During the mid-1990s, Northern Aplomado falcons had not been sighted in the United States for decades. A small remaining population existed in Mexico. Working together, the Service, The Peregrine Fund, the state of Texas and many other partners, including private landowners who agreed to have birds released on their property, reintroduced the species to Texas in 1995. The state now has a fast-growing population that was created through releases of captive birds like those at todays event. There are 44 pairs that breed and rear their young in coastal and western Texas.
Much of the land in Texas where the birds are found is privately owned, so the Service worked with private landowners to re-introduce falcons using agreements that allow individuals to participate in endangered species recovery. New Mexicos equal mix of private and federal lands called for a different approach. The Northern Aplomado falcons in New Mexico will be considered an experimental, non-essential population. This method allows the Service to introduce falcons into their historic range under more flexible regulations while still ensuring Endangered Species Act protection for the bird.
The Northern Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) once occupied a significant portion of the Southwest. Often hunting cooperatively in pairs, these strikingly beautiful falcons feed on medium-sized birds, insects and bats. Prior to the 1930s, the species was regarded as fairly common throughout the humid coastal savannas interior grasslands of northern Mexico, southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The bird disappeared beginning in the 1930s for undetermined reasons, changes in its habitat. In addition to the know raptor population crash an established decline due to pesticide - organochlorine - usage causing serious reproductive issues in many parts of the world. Effected birds eggs would collapse as the egg shell thickness reduced
During the mid-1990s, Northern Aplomado falcons had not been sighted in the United States for decades. A small remaining population existed in Mexico. Working together, the Service, The Peregrine Fund, the state of Texas and many other partners, including private landowners who agreed to have birds released on their property, reintroduced the species to Texas in 1995. The state now has a fast-growing population that was created through releases of captive birds like those at todays event. There are 44 pairs that breed and rear their young in coastal and western Texas.
Much of the land in Texas where the birds are found is privately owned, so the Service worked with private landowners to re-introduce falcons using agreements that allow individuals to participate in endangered species recovery. New Mexicos equal mix of private and federal lands called for a different approach. The Northern Aplomado falcons in New Mexico will be considered an experimental, non-essential population. This method allows the Service to introduce falcons into their historic range under more flexible regulations while still ensuring Endangered Species Act protection for the bird.
The Northern Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) once occupied a significant portion of the Southwest. Often hunting cooperatively in pairs, these strikingly beautiful falcons feed on medium-sized birds, insects and bats. Prior to the 1930s, the species was regarded as fairly common throughout the humid coastal savannas interior grasslands of northern Mexico, southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The bird disappeared beginning in the 1930s for undetermined reasons, changes in its habitat. In addition to the know raptor population crash an established decline due to pesticide - organochlorine - usage causing serious reproductive issues in many parts of the world. Effected birds eggs would collapse as the egg shell thickness reduced
 |
| Aplomado near the park |
Our story continues after discovering them again in Brazil this year 2026 in the capital Brasilia at Parque Olhos D'Agua. Where records show they have repeatedly been observed on antenna of a nearby apartment building, above a large tree. - a possible breeding place perhaps?
They are well represented in Brazil due to an abundance of termites and small birds.
Parque Olhos D'Agua with Rufous-Breasted Leaftosser on Termite mound (insert) |
No comments:
Post a Comment