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May 24, 2009

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Peregrines nesting in Town Hall clock tower leave an egg for the museum collectionBolton town centreâ€™s newest residents - a pair of magnificent Peregrine falcons and their three new chicks - have prompted a (slightly smelly) addition to the natural history collection. Lunchtime shoppers are likely to have seen and heard the pair wheeling around above Victoria Square in recent weeks.

One of the three chicks nesting in Bolton Town Hall clock tower

Natural Pest control

Reports from local bird watchers reveal that the Peregrines may have been searching for a nesting place in Bolton as early September 2007.

Greater Manchester Bird Recorder, Judith Smith, established a meeting with Council Officials who were keen to enlist a natural predator to help keep the local feral pigeon population down.

Planning permission was quickly granted and a nest tray was installed by February of this year, bolted to the wall on the north face of the clock tower.

Territorial scuffles

Though the prospective pair looked to be keen to stay they seemed uncertain about the Town Hall location. For a while they settled in the Bolton Parish Church prompting the installation of another nest tray in the tower there. The reason why they had not settled in the Town Hall nest was a mystery.

Little did they know but an avian turf war was raging far above the heads of local shoppers and town centre workers. By the end of March it became clear that some Ravens had established a nest in a well hidden spot higher up in the Town Hall. Peregrines and Ravens are wary of each other and perhaps the Raven nest was a little too close for comfort.

By the end of April it became clear that lthe Ravens had luckily moved on. The Peregrines finally settled in their new home and the female could be seen sitting on the nest tray. It is unclear when her eggs were first laid but by the 20th May she was watchfully standing by three new chicks and an un-hatched egg.

The chicks have to be ringed at round 16 to 18 days and are given two rings: one metal, one plastic. A DNA sample is also taken. Unfortunately Peregrines often fall victim to poaching or poisoning. The sample helps for identification purposes.

Ringing the chicks

As part of the monitoring programme for these birds each chick had to be ringed at 16 to 18 days. After a quick check to see how old they were a ringing date was set for early June.

The process means that the chicks are fitted with a metal and a plastic identifying ring. A DNA sample is also taken to help with identification should these birds or their offspring fall victim to illegal poaching.

This small but necessary invasion of the chicksâ€™ privacy yielded the un-hatched egg. Normally these would be taken away for further analysis but in this instance the egg was empty and the smelly specimen was presented to the Museum to become a part of the natural history collection.

Some more information about Peregrines

What do they feed on?

Feral pigeons provide an ample source of food. These pigeons derive from lost racing pigeons, which breed under bridges, on ledges etc and cause a lot of damage to council buildings, not to mention accidents when people slip on droppings under their roosts. The town hall is netted off in parts to prevent them using the ledges. When the chicks were ringed the remains of pigeons and young starlings were also found in the nest.

Are there any threats to Peregrines?

There are none from other birds other than Ravens. Peregrines are generally superior to Ravens, but not always. Judith Smith says that she has witnessed a Raven taking Peregrine eggs after forcing a Peregrine off her eggs. This is why the pair would not settle to breed until the Ravens had been forced to leave their nest. Unfortunately humans are a more likely threat to the species.

What other birds of prey can be found in the Bolton area?

Kestrels and Sparrowhawks are often found in suburban situations. Buzzards are increasing fast and may be breeding locally. Merlin and Hen Harriers may be seen in the winter months on the moor lands. Hobby is a summer visitor which is spreading but not yet proved to be breeding and Ospreys fly through on the way to Scotland.

Barn Owls (and perhaps Long-eared Owl) breed in very small numbers though Little Owl and Tawny Owls are more widespread.

When will the Bolton chicks leave the parents?

The chicks should fledge around the first week of July, and will probably stay in the vicinity of the Town Hall until the autumn, being taught how to hunt by their attentive parents. They will eventually drive them away from the territory. Hopefully, this pair should now breed annually on the clock tower.

The above information, photographs and the answers were kindly supplied by Judith Smith.

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General enquiries: 01204 332211, museum.customerservices@bolton.gov.uk. See a list of all contacts.

milecrosslofts · May 24, 2009

wow a lot there to read lol

May 24, 2009

thats what the want to tell you, a peregrine will not take one town street er, as they are not in the air long enough, it is look out sites for racing pigeons that they have created, yes i can see them take starlings, as they are in the sky in winter, but in summer the starlings are at nest therefor the racing pigeon, is the main feed stay till aug then the starlings regroup , by that time the fancier has supplied enough meet to see off a nest of 4 birds

they have never had it so good since they made those artificial sites for them and still the street er thrives :-/ so we will have to have a serious look at the situation before your bird will never make it home at all

ch pied · May 24, 2009

thats what the want to tell you, a peregrine will not take one town street er, as they are not in the air long enough, it is look out sites for racing pigeons that they have created, yes i can see them take starlings, as they are in the sky in winter, but in summer the starlings are at nest therefor the racing pigeon, is the main feed stay till aug then the starlings regroup , by that time the fancier has supplied enough meet to see off a nest of 4 birds
they have never had it so good since they made those artificial sites for them and still the street er thrives :-/ so we will have to have a serious look at the situation before your bird will never make it home at all

agreed , as said before by many , the RSPB do their homework in the placement of artificial nest site's , percy being used to clean up streeter's is just a propaganda ploy , we all know the streeter is a roof hopper & won't go high enough for percy to have a crack at it , the RSPB place the nest platforms , where their is a knowen nucleus of pigeon fancier's in the area , RSPB also read the ring list's in the BHW

Larry Lucas · May 27, 2009

The observation that feral pigeons (derived from lost racers) are their main diet is pure, empty propaganda. First, feral pigeons are not descended from racing pigeons. It is quite rare that a banded pigeon is found in the wild. A study by Gary Gleeson in Australia proves conclusively that racers don't contribute to the population of ferals. Second, anyone ever see a hawk catching a feral? The Peregrine's nests are littered with rings from racers. :'( :-/

May 27, 2009

the peregrine is the one that is causing the racing pigeon demise maybe the goshawk dont know for sure, all the small type of hawks, can be relocated, but the peregrine is the one we the fancier have to concentrate on, at the moment the jacket might be the solution

if 10,000 peregrine had jackets on that would put the rspb out on a limb, for one reason that the peregrine attacked 10,000 racing pigeons, and they could not argue that in any court, as the case would be racing pigeons are keeping peregrines alive and the peregrine

cant survive with out, racing pigeons ;D

tyson · May 27, 2009

there was a person once wrote about not racing for 2 years as probably the peregrine popalation would start to decline but i cant see pigeon men doing this then what would the rspb do then to feed their raptors

May 28, 2009

Ravens had luckily moved on

More likely moved on by R.S.P.B. There are far more efficient ways of catching/culling streeters i'm sure.

pjc · May 28, 2009

there was a person once wrote about not racing for 2 years as probably the peregrine popalation would start to decline but i cant see pigeon men doing this then what would the rspb do then to feed their raptors

I sugested that but as you say it won't happen!

If it did the RSPB would start releasing/keeping racing pigeons ;D ;D ;D

walterbmasson · May 28, 2009

yes and the tax payer would have to pay for the food

May 28, 2009

There is a simple way to nail these claims as false. Write a letter to the Council and, under the Freedom of Information Act, ask for

(1) the information source on which the claims that feral pigeons are decended from racing pigeons, and that peregrines' main diet is feral pigeons, is based.

and (2) the number of unrung pigeons, and the number of rung pigeons the pair have killed, since the peregrines took up residence.

You don't have to be a resident of their area, and you don't have to provide a reason for your enquiry. By law they have 20 working days to provide the information asked.