From April 1970 to December 1980, the California Fish and Game Commission issued permits to 33 individuals and institutions authorizing them to conduct captive raptor breeding research. All permits issued during this time period were for scientific captive breeding research only. During January 1980, changes in regulations were made by the Commission to allow persons to breed raptors for recreational purposes. As of December 1980, there were 23 scientific breeders, 7 recreational breeders, and 3 persons hold both kinds of permits. During the decade of this program, there have been 5 projects terminated for various reasons. As of December 1980, of the 302 raptors of 17 species authorized by State and Federal captive breeding permits, 149 raptors of 12 species were held under 33 permits. A total of 213 young have been produced; 37 percent of the young have been released to the wild, 32 percent have been transferred to falconers, 7 percent have been transferred to breeders, 14 percent have been retained for falconry or breeding, 3 percent have died, and 7 percent have had other fates. Prior to regulation changes allowing breeding for falconry, permits authorized raising birds primarily for release to the wild or for use in scientific research. Benefits now are accruing from the scientific captive breeding program and although few birds were released to the wild in the early years, the techniques of successful captive raptor breeding were being developed. Recently, several captive birds have been utilized in nest site augmentation and hacking programs involving Prairie Falcons (Falco mexicanus), and a project to re-establish a breeding population of Harris' Hawks (Buteo unicinctus) in southern California along the lower Colorado River.
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