Falcon family makes itself at home
A NEW family of peregrine falcons have set up home at Rochdale Town Hall - and the live webcam providing people a birds eye view is back.
The birds have been nesting at the town hall for more than a decade, and the footage is live-streamed to a web page run by Rochdale Borough Council.
Viewers from as far as Australia, Canada, and the United States tune in.
Over the next few months thousands of people will avidly follow the lives of the falcons that live at the top of the Grade I-listed building.
Once again a ‘name the chick’ competition will be held after the youngsters hatch, with an exciting new theme to be announced shortly.
The falcons are regularly seen soaring above the town centre as they hunt for food.
In 2018, the council’s award-winning Revealing the Roch project was praised for renaturalisng the river and helping to bring a range of wildlife back to Rochdale town centre.
Coun Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “We are very proud of our falcons webcam which has become a much loved part of borough life.
“Over the years the audience has really taken off, as nature lovers enjoy all the action from the nesting area.
“The birds have made Rochdale’s most famous building their home and it attracts interest and positive comments from far and wide.
“Let’s hope for plenty of thrills, but not many spills, over the coming months, with an exciting chick naming competition set to spark added interest.”
A bird’s eye view of the peregrine falcons at Rochdale Town Hall can be followed at rochdale.gov.uk/falcons