Archived press release

Date Published: 20/02/08

People in Aylesbury will get the chance to see a pair of peregrine falcons thanks to the help of local wildlife experts. A special wooden platform has been installed high up on the front of the County Hall tower block overlooking Walton Street to...

People in Aylesbury will get the chance to see a pair of peregrine falcons thanks to the help of local wildlife experts.

A special wooden platform has been installed high up on the front of the County Hall tower block overlooking Walton Street to provide a safe nesting site for the birds.

There have been sitings of a male peregrine falcon around County Hall since July 2007 and towards the end of last year the bird attracted a mate.

Local volunteers from the Bucks Bird Club, working with the countryside teams from Buckinghamshire County Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council, were keen to take the peregrines under their wing and built a nesting platform in an effort to encourage the birds to set up home. 

Over the past few weeks local birdwatchers and council staff have been witness to some awe-inspiring aerial displays from the pair. The birds have been seen doing speedy fly-bys, tumbling, flipping upside down and pretend talon locking. There is hope that this type of behaviour may indicate a desire to breed in the near future.

Councillor Margaret Dewar, Cabinet Member for Community Services at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: “It is amazing to think we have two peregrine falcons here in Aylesbury. We simply had to make sure that we did our bit in helping to protect such a rare species and I am looking forward to seeing how the birds get on with the nesting platform.”

Peregrine falcons came close to extinction in the UK in the 1960s, but have since made a remarkable recovery and are present in many towns and cities. There are just over 1,000 breeding pairs in the country.

The peregrine species is protected by law and falls under the ‘Amber’ list for being of conservation concern. When they don’t have their natural habitat of cliffs and mountains to nest on and are in urban areas, they are attracted towards tall buildings.

Rachel Faulkner, Town Centre Manager, said: “We are really excited to be playing host to these wonderful birds and very hopeful that they will breed this spring. In other towns and cities peregrines have become a popular tourist attraction and we hope that their presence in the town will encourage people to come and watch their magnificent displays.”

Buckinghamshire County Council will be posting updates about the peregrines on its website at www.buckscc.gov.uk