As early as 1898, surveyors were noting the presence of peregrine falcons in the area. When pesticide use threatened the existence of the peregrines, it was already well known that Yukon-Charley Rivers was a critical habitat for their recovery. For that reason, and for other raptors and wildlife in the area, Congress created the National Preserve to assist in their recovery.
Alaska is home to a large percentage of the nation's peregrines and Yukon-Charley Rivers is host to 20 percent of that population.
In recent years the population of Peregrines has soared, and their recovery was so successful that the falcon was removed from the endangered species list.
Why is Yukon-Charley such a good habitat for the falcons? Why do we have such a high percentage of Alaska's peregrines here in Yukon-Charley? The area is wild and undeveloped and the birds are minimally stressed by humans. They also have large waterways to hunt along and the steep bluffs rising from the river offer excellent locations for hatching and raising their young.
Peregrines hunt birds in Yukon-Charley during the summer and migrate over 5,000 miles to Central and South America for the winter.
Both the male, which is two-thirds the female's size, and the female hunt to feed the young. If you are lucky, you may see a peregrine hunt other birds on the wing at speeds up to 320 kilometers an hour (200 mph). Or perhaps, if you are quiet near a bluff, you will see a high-speed food exchange between the male and female in midair.
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