The Peregrine Falcon is the United Kingdom’s largest resident falcon, and is traditionally associated with high sea cliffs and wild upland crags. These habitats provide prey and ideal nesting opportunities, with security from predators and a minimum of human disturbance.

Over the last 50 years, peregrines came close to extinction in the United Kingdom and many other parts of the world, through the devastating effects of contamination of their food chain by organochlorine pesticides.

Following the banning of D.D.T. and increased legal protection, the population slowly recovered and began to return to previous haunts. The recovery of the peregrine in the U.K. has been well documented through the 10 yearly population surveys by the British Trust for Ornithology. As their numbers increased through the 1980’s, peregrines began to move inland to nest in quarries.

By 1991, the B.T.O. survey revealed a population of 1,265 pairs, including 7 nest sites on man-made structures and in urban areas. This had risen to 12 pairs by 1993, and included nesting on buildings, bridges, railway viaducts, pylons, industrial towers and chimney-stacks.

With funding from the Howard Victor Skan Charitable Trust, a research project began in 2001, looking at this new and increasing trend. It aims to establish how the number of urban peregrines has increased, the type of artificial nest sites selected (such as ledges on buildings or boxes mounted on power stations and other structures) and their increasing distribution throughout the U.K. This research also aims to establish a greater understanding of the peregrine, and to determine the factors leading to its increased success in its new urban setting.

To highlight the success story of the peregrine’s recovery, the most recent B.T.O. survey, undertaken in 2002, estimated the U.K. breeding population to be 1,402 pairs, with 62 pairs nesting on man-made structures. It is hoped that the current research into this trend leads to increased awareness of the peregrine falcon in the modern environment. The authors of this research will be publishing their findings in 2005.

Nick Dixon, who leads the research, is interested in hearing of sites of occupation by peregrines in urban environments and on man-made structures. All information will be treated in strict confidence, and no site locations revealed.

Please contact Nick Dixon at: nickdixondevon@aol.com

Pictures © Nick Dixon

Picture © Ian McGuire

In 1998, Nick Dixon, undertook a pilot study for a Diploma thesis, on the increase in nesting on artificial structures. He was also part of the Hawk and Owl Trust research team that investigated the relationship between peregrines and racing pigeons for the department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
Nick’s pilot study revealed a further increase in peregrines on artificial structures, but also many non-breeding pairs and single birds holding territory in urban environments.