During the 2006 breeding season, 62 territorial pairs were reported in the state (Loucks 2006). The population has been steadily recovering from extirpation since the first breeding pair was documented in 1983. However, many of the existing pairs, especially in urban areas and on bridges, would fail if it wasn't for intensive management (Loucks 2005). It is too soon to determine if the population is stable. Threats to nesting pairs still exist.

After the United States banned DDT in 1972, an effort was made to reintroduce Peregrine Falcons into the northeast. The Peregrine Fund and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released 168 young falcons in New York State between 1974 and 1988. Falcons were released at more than 12 sites in the state and 123 birds dispersed normally. By 1983, two breeding pairs returned to two sites. Two years later, two historical eyries were re-occupied by breeding pairs. An additional 12 young falcons were released in 1994 (Levine 1998). Peregrine Falcons have made a remarkable recovery in the state with the population growing steadily since 1983. By 1998 there were 38 breeding pairs. In 2003, 49 territorial pairs were known in the state (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 2003). By 2006, there were 62 territorial pairs in the state (Loucks 2006). Because of the recovery success, releases are no longer necessary (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 2003). Breeding Bird Atlas data also shows an increase in the Peregrine Falcon population with confirmed breeding in four blocks (Andrle and Carroll 1988) compared to 68 confirmed breeding blocks during the second Atlas (McGowan and Corwin 2008). Trend data is not available from the Breeding Bird Survey (Sauer et al. 2007). The Peregrine Falcon range has expanded beyond its previously known range (McGowan and Corwin 2008). However, the future of the Peregrine Falcon in New York State is still uncertain and the population is not considered stable at this time (Levine 1998).

Prior to the 1950s, there were 40 known Peregrine Falcon nest sites documented in New York. However, it is not likely that all breeding areas were known. Several factors that contributed to the decline of the Peregrine Falcon population during the first half of the 20th century include habitat loss and human disturbances (Levine 1998). However, the breeding populations disappeared from New York mostly as a result of DDT (and its breakdown product DDE) and PCB poisoning (NatureServe 2003). These chemicals caused eggshell thinning which led to the eggs breaking before hatching. By 1957 there was no successful nesting reported in the state (Bull 1985). After DDT was banned, a recovery effort was launched throughout much of the northeast including New York. Currently, the number of known nests in the state is higher than the number of known nests prior to the 1950s. In addition, most of the historical range has been re-occupied by Peregrine Falcons with the exception of the Finger Lakes area. In fact, the range has expanded. While the recent recovery of the Peregrine Falcon is encouraging, it is still too soon to predict the long term trends.