Written by Bryan Watts
July 7, 2010

Only about 3% of peregrine falcons live beyond 10 years and according to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory the longevity record for a banded falcon in the wild is 19 years and 6 months for North America. The breeding male on the James River Bridge, nicknamed “James,” appears to have been lost during the early fall, but not before he became a global star in the falcon world.
James was hatched in 1990 on the Leg-Mason Building (Baltimore, MD) and banded by raptor expert, Craig Koppie. James was first observed on the James River Bridge by Shawn Padgett in 1992, and bred there for the first time in 1993. He survived for 20 years and 5 months. In his 18 breeding seasons, he produced 54 chicks that survived to banding age. Previous lifetime reproductive success across North America for both males and females range between 22 and 25 chicks. James more than doubled these values.

 



Project sponsored by the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) and numerous other partners – see partners recognition page at VaFalcons website.