After four decades, an environmental committee is asking the federal government to remove the peregrine falcon from the Species at Risk Act but not everyone agrees.
“What really bothers me about the report is that it's based on old information from 2010, 2011,” says Dennis Patrick, a volunteer with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.
Patrick believes there is not enough up to date data to support the move.
“The sad part is we haven't had the support of the species at risk people for the last two years running."
The bird was originally placed on the endangered species list in 1978.
Since a ban on DDT was put in place, falcons have rebounded and today there are over 2,000 peregrines in Canada.
“If they’re no longer protected, that means they're fair game. That means that anybody can capture them, anyone can take them,” Patrick says. “They're no longer even protected."
Years ago, local volunteers established a self-sustaining habitat for the high speed bird under the Ambassador Bridge.
Stan Korosec, with the Detroit International Bridge Company says with a new bridge on the way, they will continue to work with the local peregrine foundation to protect the falcon.
“We've done a lot in our construction to make it friendly, so it wouldn't disturb them," he says.
“We’ll certainly work with them to make sure that this unique kind of tenant that we have will continue to flourish."
