Falcons & raptors

The ongoing worldwide decline of most birds of prey has been attributed to the use of certain pesticides such as DDT in the early to mid 20th century.

Falcons, kites and eagles in Australia have become rarer and, besides habitat loss, pesticides are a likely contributing factor.

Pesticides move through the food chain with increasing concentration from plants and insects through insect eaters through to the larger predators. In higher concentrations certain pesticides cause the thinning of shells in the eggs of predatory birds.

DDT, which caused a dramatic decline in falcon populations across the world was used widely in Australia before being banned in 1987, 15 years after it was banned in the USA for its environmental impact.

The Foundation provided financial support into a study that supported the move for a ban of DDT. From 1979 to 1981 scientists collected data on pesticide levels, eggshell thinning and breeding success of the Peregrine and other falcons, providing scientific evidence for the pesticide related decline of the species.

While traces of DDT remain in the food chain until today, falcon populations have now begun to recover.

To rescue individual raptors that had been injured in accidents, the Foundation funded a rehabilitation aviary where birds of prey can be nursed and prepared for release back into the wild.

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