Humans
have a long history together. For over 3000
years, it has been a favourite species of
falconers, and historical records show that the
Peregrine has long been held in high esteem in
many cultures around the world. Unfortunately, a
few hundred years ago attitudes changed for the
worse, and the Peregrine along with most other
birds of prey became widely persecuted. For many
years they were hunted with reckless abandon.
Later, through the use of harmful pesticides,
humans unwittingly dealt an even more severe
blow to Peregrine populations. Only in the past
couple of decades have humans again started to
help rather than hurt Peregrines and because of
this, they are making a slow yet noticeable
comeback.
Populations
began after a problem was identified, resulting
in no accurate population counts prior to the
1960s. However, the 1960s and early 1970s were
periods of critical population decline for Great
Lakes Ospreys. Along much of the Atlantic coast
of the United States, Osprey numbers also
crashed at this time. Elsewhere in Canada
declines occurred, but were less dramatic,
particularly in remote northern areas.
A
single pesticide, DDT, appears to have been
largely responsible for the dramatic population
declines in Ospreys and many other bird species.
Although other toxic chemicals may also have
caused biochemical and physiological stress to
Ospreys at this time too, their sub-lethal
effects are less clearly understood than for
DDT.
The
mid-1970s represents a turning point for Ospreys
in the Great Lakes basin, and in other parts of
North America. Since 1972, DDT use had been
severely restricted, and Ospreys have been able
to increase their reproductive output to above
the break-even point of 0.8 young per pair.
These levels of production have been sustained
generally in many parts of the Great Lakes basin
and have often reached average values of 1.0 -
1.2 young per pair in some areas. Consequently,
Great Lakes Osprey populations have increased
dramatically up to the present day.