Aylesbury welcomes rare bird visitor
Archived press release
Date Published: 19/11/07
It’s not just shoppers visiting Aylesbury town centre these days – a bird of prey called a peregrine falcon has been seen soaring over Market Square and perching at the top of the County Hall tower.
The peregrine is a rare sight in Bu...
It’s not just shoppers visiting Aylesbury town centre these days – a bird of prey called a peregrine falcon has been seen soaring over Market Square and perching at the top of the County Hall tower.
The peregrine is a rare sight in Buckinghamshire and this bird is breaking records, being the first peregrine known to have stayed in the county throughout the summer.
When local bird enthusiast, Dave Short, saw the falcon, he immediately got in touch with Buckinghamshire County Council. “I volunteered to help the council install a nesting platform on the tower because I’d like to see this bird become the first peregrine to breed in the county”, says Dave.
The county council was all too happy to oblige as Margaret Dewar, Cabinet Member for Community Services, explains: “Providing a safe nesting site at County Hall is a great opportunity for the council to look after the county’s wildlife and set a good example to others too.”
A nesting platform has been built by Dave Short, with help from Aylesbury Vale District Council and Bucks Bird Club. Over the next few weeks the platform will be installed at the top of the County Hall tower for the peregrine to use as a roosting and breeding site.
Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at AVDC, said: “This magnificent bird of prey is a wonderful sight to behold in full-flight. The last time I saw a peregrine falcon was whilst I was walking along the cliffs on the North Cornish coast. This new nesting platform should provide an ideal home for the falcon and hopefully there will be many more seen in the skies above Aylesbury in the future.”
Buckinghamshire County Council will be posting updates about the peregrine on its website at www.buckscc.gov.uk