Density, productivity, diet and population status of the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus in the Italian Alps

Capsule The population of Peregrine Falcon in the central-eastern Italian Alps is much larger than previously thought. Aims To assess the status of the species in the Alps and re-estimate the overall Italian population size. Methods We monitored a Peregrine Falcon population of 45 territorial pairs between 1998 and 2003 in a 3570 km(2) study area located in the central-eastern Italian Alps. Results All nests were on large cliffs at a mean elevation of 830 m (range = 250-1950 m). The population trend was stable at a mean density of 1.16 pairs/100 km(2). Mean nearest-neighbour distance between territorial pairs was 5.1 km. The percentage of pairs consisting of an adult male and an immature female was low (1.3% of 225 breeding attempts). Mean laying date was 11 March, the percentage of successful pairs was 46%, and the mean number of fledged young was 1.10 per territorial pair and 2.40 per successful pair. Diet was dominated by Turdidae, Columbidae and Corvidae. Density, diet and breeding performance were comparable to those reported for other European populations in the 1980s and 1990s. Conclusion The population of the central-eastern Alps, previously underestimated at 20-30 pairs, is re-estimated at 400-460 pairs. The overall Italian population is consequently re-estimated at 1085-1335 pairs (i.e. about 20% of the European population). The conservation status of the population appears satisfactory.