Peregrine falcons recovered from pesticide-driven near-extinction represent one of conservation's great success stories with ongoing welfare considerations.
Peregrines that survived the DDT era experienced eggshell thinning causing hatching failure and reproductive loss at population scale. Recovered populations now face illegal killing and nest destruction on driven grouse moors. Persecution causes direct welfare harm to killed birds and disrupts breeding pairs that mate for life. Urban nesting populations benefit from relative protection from illegal persecution.