Celebrating 20 Years of Peregrine Falcons in Ann Arbor

Name: Celebrating 20 Years of Peregrine Falcons in Ann Arbor
Start: 2026-03-18T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-18T19:30:00-04:00
Location: Ann Arbor District Library - Downtown Library

Schedule

Wed Mar 18 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Ann Arbor District Library - Downtown Library | Ann Arbor, MI

Join former WBNA President and current Michigan Audubon and Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance board member Ray Stocking as he looks back on 20 years since the first post-delisting Peregrine Falcon sighting in Ann Arbor—one of Washtenaw County’s most uplifting wildlife comeback stories.
Ray will take us through the Peregrine’s dramatic journey in Michigan—from near extinction in the mid‑1900s due to DDT, to its inspiring rebound after the pesticide ban in the 1970s. He’ll share memories from that exciting March 2006 sighting that had local birders buzzing (and maybe a little overexcitement from the University of Michigan!), plus stories about the early struggles of these falcons trying to nest atop the Burton Memorial Tower on U‑M’s campus.
Thanks to the teamwork of WBNA, the Michigan DNR, the University of Michigan, and others, nest boxes placed across key campus buildings helped Peregrines reclaim the city skyline. It’s a true celebration of resilience, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of conservation.
This is a hybrid event. It will occur at the Ann Arbor District Library: Downtown, and will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel (click on the “LIVE” link appearing on our channel when the program is in session).
Photo credit Barb Baldinger