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January 14, 2025
Peregrine Falcon feeding chicks in Iowa during the 2025 nesting season. Image courtesy of nest monitoring volunteer, Randy Cook.
Breeding Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) disappeared from Iowa in the mid-20th Century. Peregrine Falcons historically nested on cliff ledges, but have also adapted to nest on human-made structures like tall buildings and bridges. Iowa DNR began a Peregrine Falcon restoration program in 1989 with 23 birds released in Cedar Rapids followed by another 19 released in Des Moines in 1991. Between 1989 and 2003, a total of 169 birds were released in Iowa feeding into a regional restoration effort that saw 875 birds released across the Midwest. In 1999, the first pair of birds nested on their historic nesting grounds along the Mississippi River bluffs. As of 2025, most of the Peregrine Falcon nesting occurs in the eastern half of the state in three main environments: Urban, Mississippi River bluff faces, and energy plant towers. The restoration effort was supported by the Iowa DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund; a constitutionally protected fund where hunting, fishing and trapping license fees are deposited and used, in part, to protect, restore, or manage fish and wildlife. To learn more about Peregrine Falcons, visit the Iowa DNR's Peregrine Falcon web page.
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Statewide map showing 2025 Peregrine Falcon nest locations (19 active, 1 inactive).
Monitoring of nest sites is accomplished by a network of volunteer and professional surveyors. Surveyors collect data on the nest’s activity and whether the pair are successful in producing fledglings. Some opportunistic reports of nesting activity are also accepted if no formal data are available. The Raptor Resource Project monitors and bands at a number of Peregrine nest sites in the northeastern corner of the state and we appreciate their partnership. Several nest sites are on power plants which have restricted access so we rely on employees who not only monitor the nest sites but are often wonderful stewards for the birds. Click here to view the full 2025 Iowa Peregrine Falcon nesting report.
There were a total of 20 nests monitored in 2025 with no new nests reported. Of these 20 nests, 19 were active and 1 was inactive. Of the 19 active nests, 13 were reported as successful, 2 were reported as failed, and 4 had no outcome reported. The average number of young produced per nest with a known outcome was 1.87, a decrease from last year (2.77), but similar to the three years prior. While the number of fledged young in 2025 is lower than 2024, the similartity in the number of fledged young to previous years indicates that falcon reproduction still likely remains stable with 2024 representing an outlier as a particularly successful year.
Summary of 2021-2025 Iowa Peregrine Falcon nesting results.
Compared to previous years, 2025 was a fairly average year for Peregrine reproduction with 68.4% of active nests reported as successful. A minimum total of 28 young fledged from the 13 successful nests, notably lower than 2024 (36 young fledged), but similar to the previous three years.
Continued monitoring is warranted with ongoing disease threats such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N12.3.4.4). Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) predominantly effects wild waterfowl and shorebirds but can also be spread to species that eat waterfowl and shorebird prey, such a Peregrine Falcons and Eagles. In 2025, the Iowa DNR documented the loss of four Peregrine Falcons from HPAI outside the nesting season. Overall, Iowa’s nesting population of Peregrine Falcons appears to be stable, with birds generally returning to historic nesting sites each year, but this recovering population continues to warrant annual monitoring.
The percent of active and successful Iowa Peregrine Falcon nests (out of total active territories) from 2016-2025.
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who are vital to tracking Peregrine Falcon nesting in Iowa. Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated volunteers, all nest sites were monitored in 2025. The DNR will continue to monitor nest sites with the partnership of volunteers and others who care about falcons in Iowa. Falcon nest sites can be very challenging to monitor because of their location and the territoriality of the birds so any data received are much appreciated.
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