Peregrine falcons historically inhabited Jackson, Jersey, Union, and Wabash Counties in Southern Illinois, but were extirpated from the area after the extensive use of the eggshell-thinning pesticide DDT. Although reintroductions have been made in metropolitan areas such as Chicago and St. Louis, peregrine falcons have yet to inhabit their historic cliff sites. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is sufficient habitat to support a reintroduced peregrine falcon population in Southern Illinois. I will take a spatially-explicit approach by linking a Geographic Information System (GIS) based habitat model with a matrix population model to run a population viability analysis (PVA). Land cover maps and digital elevation models will be used to identify publicly owned, peregrine falcon habitat. I will conduct on site cliff assessments and great horned owl surveys to determine the suitability for reintroduction. Finally, I will use the PVA software, RAMAS/GIS, with literature based demographic and dispersal rates to model alternate reintroduction scenarios with varying founder cohort size, interval length, and spatial arrangements.
