The National Peregrine Survey 2002

Regional maps and results

Peregrine numbers have continued to expand prodigiously in some areas.

• Numbers of occupied territories have increased between 1991 and 2002 in southern and central England, where they have recolonised the southeast coast and expanded into inland counties where Peregrines have not previously been recorded.
• They have also increased in South Wales, parts of Northern England and southeast Scotland.
• These increases have occurred through the use of new sites, particularly in quarries and on tall buildings, and show the Peregrine’s flexibility in adapting to new situations.
• Man-made sites included bridges, pylons, a cathedral, a castle, power stations, a radio mast, a gasometer, a railway station and a tower of a dam.
• An exciting event was the receipt of two records of tree-nesting by Peregrines, at widely separated geographical locations. Tree-nesting Peregrines are rare in the UK, but do occur quite regularly in other parts of the world.

Peregrine numbers have declined in other areas.

• Declines in north and western Scotland have continued since 1991, with 30% declines recorded in the Highland region between 1991 and 2002.
• Shetland now has no breeding Peregrines at all.
• This phenomenon has apparently spread further south, with 30% declines also occurring in Argyll.
• A new feature this year is a decline of 15% in inland North Wales and a 10% decline in inland Northern Ireland.
• In all these areas about 40% of occupied territories were held by non-breeding pairs or singletons compared with about 20% elsewhere, further emphasising the tale of reduced occupancy and suggesting that the problems facing these areas are potentially severe.

Possible reasons for declines

• Food shortage: The declines in Scotland have generally been attributed to food shortage, possibly due to the declines in productivity of moorland, associated with over-grazing and regular burning, although research is needed to investigate theses possibilities. Substantial declines have been recorded among upland and moorland birds in Wales over the last decade.
• Marine pollution: In coastal areas, marine pollution has been suggested as a reason for declines
• Fulmars: they defend their nests from attack by regurgitating foul oil over intruders, such as Peregrines. This can leave victims unable to fly with potentially lethal consequences for both adults and offspring.
• Changes in the timing and routing of pigeon races: This was advocated by the UK Raptor Working Group as a means of reducing conflict and may be having an additional effect. There is some anecdotal evidence for this in parts of England.
• Persecution: Surveyors also indicated that as many as 95 sites may have failed due to persecution. This may also explain absences from some traditionally occupied sites, for example in northeast and central Scotland.

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