What is the conservation status of the Gyrfalcon?
Thankfully, the Gyrfalcon is not currently in crisis mode. It is classified as a species of lower risk (Global Raptor Information Network, http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8251) and least concern by BirdLife International but apparent population declines have been documented in Greenland. It is evaluated as “rare” in Europe because of its small population size, estimated to be as few as 1,300 pairs. Climate change, especially warming, is predicted to be greatest in the Arctic and its biological effects most readily measured in species that inhabit this ecoregion. Species that inhabit exclusively high latitudes or high elevations are predicted to be most vulnerable to loss of their habitat as the climate warms. As a widespread predator in the Arctic, the Gyrfalcon may lend itself to measuring the effects of climate change and developing models for mitigating them.
