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It's also critically endangered.
That's why Bill Heinrich, Species Restoration Manager for The Peregrine Fund, is working to restore this species to its former U.
S.
range.
This medium-sized falcon was placed on the endangered species list in 1986.
The Peregrine Fund began experimenting with captive breeding Aplomado Falcons and releasing them around the same time.
Before then, these falcons had not been seen in the U.
S.
since the 1950's.
That's a long time for a key predator to be missing from these unique ecosystems.
Aplomados primarily hunt and consume other birds and insects.
It's hunting behavior is unique because, rather than stooping from high elevations like most falcons, it displays the accipiter-like behavior of perusing its prey in thick foliage.
This fierce falcon, on average, weighs less than a pound but has a wing span between 2 ½ - 3 feet.
Like other raptors though, females are larger than males by about 30%.
Females usually lay 2-3 eggs per clutch and the young fledge between 39 and 42 days.
Aplomados don't build their own nests, but take over nest sites from other bird species.
They also readily accept artificial nesting structures.
The Peregrine Fund released 32 captive-bred birds on Mustang Island, Texas in 2012.
This same year, a survey found 28 nesting pairs producing 48 young.
This is a yield of 1.
7 young per pair, which Bill Heinrich and his team consider stable for the South Texas population.
Restoration efforts in West Texas and New Mexico have not been so successful.
With over 900 birds released with little success, The Peregrine Fund is likely to shift the bulk of its efforts to South Texas.
The hope would be to continue to grow this population and expand the Aplomado's range from there.
Surveys conducted in the northern Mexico State of Chihuahua found only a handful of nesting pairs in 2012.
"This disappointing number, along with a low success rate in New Mexico and West Texas, is attributed to the extended drought this area has experienced and habitat conversion to agricultural use," says Bill Heinrich.
When populations of any organism are reduced to critically low numbers they become extremely susceptible to natural disturbances such a drought or disease.
Add in human-caused habitat degradation and the restoration of such species becomes a tall (but not hopeless) order.
Bill's next move is to involve the surrounding federal refuges of Laguna Atascosa, Aransas, and Mustang Island State Park to improve on-the-ground conditions for Aplomado Falcons and to expand the understanding of why this population is increasing in the face of suboptimal climate conditions.
In the meantime, more Aplomados will be captive bred at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho and then released in South Texas as an important part of the restoration program.
For more information on The Peregrine Fund and The Aplomado Falcon Restoration Project contact Bill Heinrich directly at bheinrich@peregrinefund.
org.
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