URBAN AREAS
How to see peregrine falcon, red deer, hedgehog and house martin
The largest falcon in the UK, the peregrine is an impressive and powerful bird and, surprisingly, it is actually a resident in many of our busy cities. This beautiful species is famous for being the world’s fastest animal and has been recorded reaching 389kph during a dive. This speed is achieved when stooping, rising to a great height then flying down quickly in pursuit of prey. On sea cliffs, puffins and guillemots are on the menu but in urban areas they hunt feral pigeons and the occasional starling, blackheaded gull and even non-native ring-necked parakeet.
Peregrines are typically found in the north and west of the UK, nesting on coastal cliffs and mountain ledges. However, in recent decades, the species has spread further south and has taken up residence in our urban spaces, with cathedral spires replacing cliffs as their nesting sites. Peregrine pairs can now be found in most cities, often on iconic buildings, such as the Tate Modern in London or the BT Tower in Birmingham. Many conservation organisations have friendly staff and volunteers on hand at watch-points to point out the birds. Telescopes and binoculars are usually available to get a better view, and a number of peregrine nests are also filmed via webcams. If you’re lucky, you may see a pair of peregrines together, which makes it easier to spot the size difference. The female is a third larger than the male. Courtship and territorial behaviours start in February or March – look out for display flights as the birds perform amazing aerial acrobatics. The most thrilling sight has to be the prey pass, where the male will hunt and catch food and pass it to the female in mid-air – she flies upside-down in order to receive it. Eggs are laid in late March or during April, and chicks remain on the nest until fledging in July. The youngsters will continue to be fed by their parents through to September before becoming independent.