The iconic peregrine has found a sanctuary at Greenfire Preserve.

The species' resume is remarkable. It as arguably the fastest animal on Earth and has the widest distribution in the world. It is a bird of prey revered by royal falconers for thousands of years, and was one of the first species to be listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Battered by the effects of DDT since the 1950s but now recovering, the peregrine arrived at Greenfire in central Idaho in 2002, coinciding with the restoration of the preserve.

DDT was banned in the '70s, ensuring a chance for the peregrine's recovery. In the '80s and '90s Boise's Peregrine Fund augmented natural recovery by releasing thousands of young falcons.

In 1993 and 1994 I discovered the first two peregrine territories in south-central Idaho at nearby (as the peregrine flies) Redfish and Stanley lakes. The Redfish female's red leg band indicated she had gotten her start with a little help from the Peregrine Fund. (Incredibly, biologists also observed a female with a red leg band at Redfish in 2003, likely the same individual!). At the time there were fewer than 15 known territories (30 peregrines) in Idaho.

Today there are about 25 known territories in Idaho. Greenfire is one of the newest. The total number of fledglings statewide continues to increase each year, and the current outlook for the peregrine is good. The Greenfire eyrie fledged no young in 2002, two fledglings in 2003, and none in 2004, or about 0.3 young per year.

Over the last 12 years the Redfish peregrines have produced about 1.3 fledglings per year and the enigmatic Stanley peregrines have produced 0.3 young per year.

Peregrines may have chosen the Greenfire area to nest because of its proximity to the confluence of the East Fork and main Salmon just a mile downstream. Peregrines often choose nesting areas that are geographically prominent, usually not far from water.

And who knows? Perhaps they have an eye for opportunity. Perhaps they saw the potential for flourishing populations of prey as they looked down upon the new plantings, the newly missing monoculture and the biodiversity producing machine that Greenfire is becoming now that the land is free of cattle.

Larry Barnes is a Western Watersheds Project member. He teaches biology at Wood River High School in Hailey and studies wildlife during the summer.