The history of modern falconry has, in many ways been written by the fortunes of the Peregrine Falcon. This species is almost synonymous with falconry, certainly Western falconry. Fluctuations in the populations of this resilient and widespread species over the past 60 years and the responses to these fluctuations have determined the practice of modern falconry, the attitudes of others to falconry and, even, the establishment and growth of the IAF. The consideration of down-listing of the Peregrine falcon at the CITES CoP 17 in Johannesburg this year can be seen as bringing this story in full cycle.