2009 Take of Passage Peregrine Falcons for Falconry

General Information

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) completed a Final Environmental Assessment for the take of passage Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) during 2008. The USFWS determined that 36 passage birds could be taken east of 100 degree longitude without having any negative impacts on Peregrine Falcon populations. This year the USFWS and the Flyway Councils, which have members from each state, developed and approved a plan for take during the fall of 2009. The Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central flyways determined the number of birds allocated among each flyway. The Atlantic Flyway was awarded 16 passage Peregrine Falcons for the 2009 season. During the winter of 2009 the Atlantic Flyway Council allocated the number of falcons to be taken among the Atlantic coastal states. This was accomplished by evaluation of two factors. These included:

  1. the desire of each state to participate; and
  2. the geographical distribution of passage falcons along the Atlantic Coast.

Through this process, it Virginia was allotted four (4) passage Peregrine Falcons for the September 20 - October 20, 2009 trapping season.

Falconer Eligibility

  1. Virginia residents who are classified as Master or General class falconers are eligible to apply. At the sole discretion of VDGIF, however, falconers with limited experience handling and hunting with falcons may be excluded from authorization to take a Peregrine Falcon.
  2. Five out-of-state residents will be randomly drawn from applications submitted by the deadline (August 31, 2009). Only non-residents from Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia may apply (these are states with reciprocal take agreements). Non-residents must supply photocopies of their federal and state falconry permits with their application.

Program Requirements

  1. The season for take will be from September 20 - October 20, 2009, but will close when the fourth passage bird has been taken and reported to VDGIF per condition #5 below.
  2. Only one passage Peregrine Falcon may be captured and possessed by a falconer.
  3. No banded Peregrine Falcons may be taken. If a banded raptor is accidentally or incidentally captured, band numbers and colors must be recorded, photographs taken if possible, and the bird must be immediately released. Band numbers and photographs of such incidentally-captured birds must be submitted to VDGIF no later than 31 October 2009, to the attention of: Ms. Shirl Dressler, VDGIF, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, VA 23230-1104.
  4. Any Peregrine Falcon captured must be either immediately released (if deemed unsuitable for falconry purposes), or immediately banded with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service black falconry band. If you do not have a USFWS falconry band, contact the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) at (804) 367-6913.
  5. Report of your take of a Peregrine Falcon is mandatory by calling (540) 899-4169, extension 119, no later than 10:00 pm on the day of capture. Your message must report your name, authorization number, time of capture, location of capture, and USFWS falconry band number.
  6. Two breast feathers must be collected from your falcon (see below) and placed in a zip-lock bag. Your name and USFWS falconry band number must be clearly written on the bag with an indelible marker.
  7. Captured falcons must be taken to a VDGIF Regional office within 48 hours of capture to confirm the band number and collect feather specimens. Locations of Regional Offices can be found on this website. If you need assistance locating an office or do not have internet access please call the VDGIF headquarters at (804) 367-1000.
  8. Upon reporting of the capture and possession (as required in #5 above) of the fourth passage peregrine, all falconers authorized to take a falcon will be contacted by telephone to inform them of the season closure, and the Department's web site will be updated to report the season closure. All permittees must be accessible by telephone from September 20 until the season closes, or they must check the Department's web site each day to determine whether the season is open or closed. No attempts to take a peregrine falcon are authorized after notification of season closure. If an unreported or unconfirmed passage peregrine is in an authorized permittee's possession at the time of season closure, it must be reported immediately by calling (540) 899-4169, extension 119 as described in #5 above. The bird may then be retained in possession, but may not be removed from Virginia, until VDGIF confirms the four authorized peregrine takes at our Regional Offices as described in #7 above. Upon confirmation of take of four peregrine falcons, any additional birds held in possession by any authorized permittee must be immediately released.

Permit Application

Download the permit application here (PDF) ↓

Questions and Answers

Q: Why did VDGIF not use a lottery system to allocate take permits?
A: The VDGIF wants to maximize the opportunity for qualified falconers to take a passage Peregrine Falcon. A lottery would limit the number of falconers able to participate, and thereby significantly reduce the likelihood that four passage falcons would be taken in Virginia this season.
Q: Why are non-residents from certain states allowed to take birds in Virginia?
A: Three other states will allow Virginia residents to participate in take of falcons this trapping season, including Maryland, North Carolina, and Georgia. The Department wants to provide a reciprocal opportunity to falconers from these states. Five non-residents will be selected randomly from the non-resident applications submitted. Maryland, also, is allowing five non-residents to acquire permits for take. Our procedure will provide consistency between Virginia and Maryland, thus maximizing the opportunity for a falconer in the Mid-Atlantic Region to acquire a bird.
Q: If a non-resident acquires a bird in another state can he or she also take a bird in Virginia as well?
A: No. We feel this would be unfair to other falconers by minimizing their opportunity to take a passage falcon.
Q: Will your protocol result in a "free-for-all" take of passage peregrines in Virginia? There are those who will call in a trapped bird, whether they have one or not, just to get one of the permits, and take indiscreet chances just to beat the clock.
A: VDGIF does not view our Passage Peregrine Take Program as a "free for all"; rather, it is designed to prevent unauthorized take of a falcon. Each bird captured must be reported on the day of capture, including the time and location of the capture, USFWS falconry band number, and permit authorization number. Also, each successful falconer must present their falcon to a VDGIF Regional office within 48 hours for confirmation.
Q: If a falconer is successful this year in taking a passage falcon will he or she be allowed to participate next year?
A: The results of this year's take will be evaluated by state and federal authorities, and proposals for take in future years will be fully considered. It would be inappropriate for us to prematurely address this specific issue.
Q: Why are falconers required to collect and submit breast feathers?
A: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a DNA study of birds taken this fall among the participating states.