FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Falco peregrinus | Peregrine Falcon 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Nichols and Menke [23] reported that fires near nesting cliffs could disturb
peregrine young or nesting pairs.  No other direct fire effects on
peregrine falcon have been noted.


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
The effect of fire on peregrine falcon habitat is best defined by how it
affects their primary prey, other bird species.  The California
Department of Forestry [23] concluded that peregrine falcons would
benefit by chaparral burning if it resulted in an increase of other
birds.  Studies conducted on chaparral burning concluded that abundant
food was available to raptors immediately following fire because of the
vulnerability of prey species due to a cover reduction [21].  Bird
species richness and diversity increase in the first few years following
fire in chaparral communities [25]. Taylor and Barmore [24] reported
that following fire in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks,
air-soaring bird species were present by the second year and firmly
established by the fifth year. (Peregrine falcons were not included on
their species inventory list.)  However, as the canopy closed (after 40
years), these species began to drop out and were replaced by other, but
fewer, species.  Total bird biomass here was at least 70 percent greater
between 5 and 29 years following fire than it was after 40 years.  They
also concluded that canopy closure affected avifauna more than fire did.


FIRE USE : 
In California, Longhurst [22] reported a greater diversity of bird
species in young stands of chaparral regrowth (2-3 years old) or in
chaparral interspersed with grassy openings than in stands that were
older than 5 years.  Frequent burning creates a mosaic of habitats and
maintains abundant prey for peregrine falcons.  Because peregrine
falcons require open areas for hunting, fires that create these open
areas would probably be beneficial, provided burning led to an increase
of prey species.


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Falco peregrinus | Peregrine Falcon