Falcons on Ted Turner's ranch mark success for reintroduction program

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Biologists who have been working for years to reintroduce the endangered northern aplomado falcon to its historic range across the Southwest said Thursday they have spotted baby birds in a trio of nests in southern New Mexico and West Texas.

The chicks hatched in New Mexico are the first here under a restoration effort that began last summer when 11 captive-bred falcons were released on media mogul Ted Turner's Armendaris Ranch east of Truth or Consequences.

"Even under natural circumstances a lot of young birds that fledge don't make it. So to have so many continuing to be seen and to have a nesting pair in the first year, it is beyond what we had hoped for," Patricia Zenone, a senior biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told The Associated Press.

The aplomado falcon, identified by a white stripe above the eye and a brown vest, was listed as endangered in 1986. New Mexico's last known nesting pair was near Deming more than 50 years ago.

The development in southern New Mexico is just one measure of success for the reintroduction project, which also has released birds on numerous private ranches in West Texas since 2002.

After successful reintroduction efforts in South Texas, the nonprofit Peregrine Fund, Turner's Endangered Species Fund and the Fish and Wildlife Service began work to restore the birds in New Mexico with the August 2006 release on the Armendaris.

Angel Montoya, a biologist with The Peregrine Fund, said two of those birds began courting in March and took over an abandoned raven nest atop a 65-foot power pole on the ranch (aplomados don't make their own nests). Within weeks, they were bringing food back to the nest for their young.

It was Montoya and ranch manager Tom Waddell who first spotted the bustling nest.

"We gave each other a high five," Montoya recalled.

Bill Heinrich, another biologist with The Fund, said the chicks were a surprise since the parents are barely approaching a year old.

"It's rare for two juvenile birds to successfully lay eggs and produce chicks," he said. "We weren't expecting this to happen for another year or two when they are a bit more mature."

The babies — between 12 and 15 days old — will likely leave the nest in the next few weeks. Montoya said they're about the size of a dove right now.

The Peregrine Fund said two nests with chicks also were spotted on a ranch south of Van Horn, Texas, marking the first known nests in that area in a century.