Falcons have been in city for ‘a while’
Five sack loads of dead pigeons were discovered near Horatia House
A BIRD expert has revealed that peregrine falcons have been in the city ‘for a while’ after ‘five sack loads of dead pigeons’ were found in a cavity roof.
The revelation comes following the discovery of the protected bird of prey at Horatia House, Somers Town – potentially throwing a spanner in the works for £12m plans to demolish the tower block.
But Keith Betton, chairman of Hampshire Ornithological Society who is licensed by Natural England to watch peregrines, said the discovery was the first known case in the city where the birds have been found nesting.
He said: ‘I wasn’t aware of this nest but I am not surprised as two years ago workers on a nearby block in Middle Street removed five sack loads of dead pigeons from a cavity in the roof.
‘Clearly the birds have been in that area for a while.’
Mr Betton said it was a ‘mystery’ why there had been no peregrines nesting in Portsmouth when in Southampton there were up to four known pairs, while in Hampshire there were 20 overall.
The volunteer, who has monitored 20 nests this year, said he was aware of five locations across the city where peregrines were seen including a nest on a Royal Navy hangar at the dockyard and St Jude’s Church, Southsea.
‘They have been seen at different places but there has never been any nesting,’ he said. ‘I saw one at Horatia House two years ago at the same time of finding the dead pigeons in Middle Street.
‘The timing is a surprise as peregrines finished breeding in June or July. At all the nests I have watched their chicks were away and flying at least a month ago.’
Peregrines are a schedule 1 species under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and have full protection – as do their nests whilst in use.
The peregrines, the fastest birds in the world which can reach 240mph when nose diving to catch prey, were found by Kelly-Marie Turner and her partner Darren Barnett, who live opposite Horatia House in Sir Robert Peel House, Astley Street.
The peregrines in Horatia House led to an acceptance from Portsmouth City Council it may have to delay plans to take the building down. During work to take off cladding after the Grenfell Tower disaster, problems were found in the concrete structure which would have been too expensive to repair. Nearby block Leamington House is also due to be ripped down for the same reasons.
Mr Betton is also hoping to help launch a nesting box in the city in the next two years.