The National Peregrine Survey 2002

Peregrines do some amazing things!

Over the course of a survey like the national Peregrine survey, a wide range of interesting facts are reported along with the basic information, here are some of them:

• Is this the most unusual/inhospitable site for a nesting peregrine? The nest was located in a chemical works at the side of the building, situated on a maintenance platform for lighting. It was within 4m of a conveyor belt that carries 1,200 tonnes of limestone per 24 hrs! Very noisy and loud. The pair regularly raises young successfully.
• At one site the male started hunting at night and although the main prey was Starling, it was also recorded bringing in Sanderling, Dunlin, Knot, Water Rail, Moorhen, Ringed & Golden Plovers, Lapwing, Woodcock, Snipe, Slavonian Grebe, Redwing, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Kittiwake, Teal and Redshank
• A metal detector discovered a ring from a Swedish Sandwich Tern in an eyrie.
• There was one case of apparent bigamy – one male breeding with two females.
• There was an instance of a third (immature) bird helping to feed the young in a nest.
• One nest was destroyed by goats!

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