Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Breeding Success in a Disused Mining Pit while Taking Prey from Cyanide-bearing Tailings Dams

Abstract

This paper reports observations of the breeding success of a pair of Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus that took live prey from a cyanide-bearing tailings dam between 1998 and 2001. There was no evidence of toxic effects of cyanide on the Falcons, which raised eight young over the 3 years 1998–2000 or 2.67 young per attempt.