Cracking place to start a new family of falcons
GAS HOLDER TO HATCH THEIR EGGS
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AN iconic urban structure has become home to new residents, who last weekend brought new life into the world.
Visitors to Huddersfield town centre are more used to pigeons, blackbirds and maybe the odd sparrow.
But those who look up may have seen slightly more majestic birds circling above their new found nesting spot.
A pair of peregrine falcons have chosen Huddersfield’s disused gas holder to bring up their young.
After nesting there last year, they returned in recent months and over the bank holiday weekend two eggs hatched with two more due any day now.
Peregrine falcons typically nest on sea cliffs or upland rural areas but are more frequently found making their homes on tall structures in towns and cities where they can feed on common wildlife.
A watchful eye on the protected species has been made possible by Northern Gas Networks (NGN) after action by bird loving couple, Ian Fletcher and Liz Payne from Clayton West.
Last year they contacted NGN after spotting the peregrines flying around and tracking them to the gas holder.
A nesting tray and web cam were set up prior to this year’s breeding season after incidents with the chicks falling from the 120ft structure last year.
Liz said: “The peregrines kept us busy during lockdown.
“They produced three chicks and gave us the opportunity to discuss options to protect the peregrines further this year.
“At first we wanted to keep the nesting site under the radar and away from predators of the human kind, but then we decided that going public would mean greater protection for the birds.
“We set up a Facebook group, Huddersfield Peregrines, which grew and that was followed by a Twitter feed and YouTube channel. We figured the more people who knew they were there, the safer they would be.
“Northern Gas have been a great support and it was in January 2021 when it all came together.
“We were extremely pleased to see the Huddersfield peregrines duly return and lay four eggs.
“The first egg hatched on May 2 and the second the day after, so two more to go.”
Andy Miller from NGN said he had agreed to give the couple access to the site and help with the nest after the sad death of the chick last year.
He said: “Unfortunately the chick had fallen into the holder tank and died.
“It was at this point I made the decision to put a dual lock on the gate and give a key to Liz and Ian.
“The gasholder is disused and private property. The gas holder is isolated, purged and degassed, so there are no gas related hazards on site. Both Liz and Ian were briefed on what they could and could not do on site, and they have both complied with the restrictions.
“It’s a good job too, as one of the chicks, christened ‘Problem Child,’ had to be rescued from the surrounding properties on several occasions and returned to the site.
“After many rescues of Problem Child, both surviving chicks fledged, so job done.”
In the UK peregrine falcons have protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to kill or injure a peregrine and damage or disturb a nest or steal or damage eggs. There is an unlimited fine or up to six months imprisonment or both.