Lovebirds’ new roost on Forth Road Bridge

WILDLIFE: Repairs on hold after kestrel nest with six eggs found inside end of girder

For most young couples searching for a cosy family nest, the inside of a steel girder with 80,000 vehicles a day thundering overhead would not seem like an ideal location to start a family.

But for kestrels nesting on the Forth Road Bridge, just such a location has become home sweet home for the chirpy pair.

Bridge workers discovered the birds of prey while repairing steelwork underneath the carriageway.

There they found the lovebirds’ nest,

I’ve heard of kestrels nesting on the bridge before, but it’s pretty unusual.

DAVID GILL

containing six eggs, tucked inside the end of a girder.

Maintenance supervisor David Gill said: “When we saw the eggs, we immediately cleared the area and instructed staff to avoid carrying out any works that might disturb the nest.

“I’ve heard of kestrels nesting on the bridge before, but it’s pretty unusual.

“We’re happy to have them here though, and have affectionately named them Mr and Mrs Younger.”

Staff from Amey, which is responsible for the bridge, will come back and finish repairs once the chicks have hatched and flown the nest.

“In the meantime we’ve carried out a temporary repair on a local defect and there won’t be any impact on users of the bridge,” added Mr Gill.

Kestrels are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take a kestrel, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.

leclark@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: PA. View from the bridge: one of the kestrels on the Forth Road Bridge.