In 1995 Robert Wheeldon established Parkland Mews, a non-profit organization devoted to Peregrine Falcon recovery in Manitoba. The organization marked the first significant attempt at a comprehensive recovery strategy for the species in the province.

When Wheeldon assumed the position of Executive Director in 1995 there were only two known breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the wild; one pair was over 13 years old, and the other pair was nine and 11 years old. All four falcons were well beyond their breeding cycle and were not expected to have any more offspring.

Parkland Mews established a captive breeding program using Peregrine Falcons captured in the wild with the intention of returning Peregrine Falcon chicks to the wild to breed naturally. In 1997 the first pair of Peregrine Falcons was purchased by the organization. In that same year Parkland Mews was granted a license to transport and keep the endangered Peregrine Falcon for breeding and educational purposes. They are the only organization in Manitoba with such a license.

Community Futures Triple has been a strong supporter of this initiative. Triple R has assisted them with the development of a business plan to streamline the non-profit and for-profit portion of the organization. Triple R also assisted them in finding possible funding partners and developing a generic information package to use in the funding application process.

Since its inception there have been three key stakeholders in this project — the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, and the Federal Government. All three levels have contributed funding towards the work of the organization and its development and delivery of the Peregrine Falcon recovery program. The Department of Education and Training, Manitoba Hydro and other private donors have thrown their support behind the project as well.

· In the Spring of 2000, with the support of Manitoba Hydro, Parkland Mews established a release tower in the compound to aid in the training and eventual release of Peregrine Falcons back into the wild.
· In 2001, Parkland Mews’ educational program Beaks and Feet was added to the curriculum of schools in Manitoba. The program is a three-tier curriculum delivered in grades K or 1, 4-6, and finally 11-12. It is intended to provide insight at all three levels into the importance of ecosystems and ecology.
· To support the care and breeding of the falcons, the organization has developed other revenue generating activities such as the production of quail eggs.

There are currently three Peregrine Falcons in the barns being used for breeding. Parkland Mews has raised a total of three Peregrine Falcon chicks to date and a set of eggs have been laid by one of the young females. The fall of 2001 saw the release of the first Peregrine Falcons into the wild.

Parkland Mews will continue breeding Peregrine Falcons, as well as carrying on its educational programs in schools and through public presentations. To aid in recovery efforts, the organization has a future goal of building additional breeding barns for the Peregrine Falcon, as well as an additional release tower on the Parkland Mews property. Also, to further the ability to carry out educational programming on-site, the organization is endeavoring to raise funds to develop office and classroom facilities in the present breeding barn.

This initiative is of benefit to all people interested and concerned with the preservation of the endangered Peregrine Falcon as well as maintenance of the benefits the Falcon holds for the whole ecosystem, both nationally and globally.

With this in mind, Community Futures Triple R has been a great source of moral support for Parkland Mews and continues to play the role of sounding board for the organization as it strives toward its goal of repopulating the wild with these magnificent creatures. While the guiding principle of Parkland Mews is to shift the Peregrine Falcon from the endangered list to the protected list, the organization has made some remarkable strides in a short period of time.