After careful consideration it has been decided to make an exception of one Forest of Bowland Peregrine nesting territories by including an image and identification of the territories location. Because of the site’s appalling productivity throughout the last 36 years, it was decided there is more to be gained by adverse publicity, rather than continuing to sit back and do nothing. Despite the circumstances surrounding the regular failure of this Peregrine territory being reported to the police, there has been no improvement. Disappointingly each spring nesting attempts are being discouraged, resulting in the disappearance of numerous breeding birds, together with any eggs that are produced.
The last time the Mallowdale territory was productive was in 1997 when a single female chick fledged successfully. Since 1973 only 4 nesting attempts have succeeded producing a total of 9 fledglings. Historically rocks and boulders have been recovered from nesting ledges, placed into active nests to prevent breeding taking place. Over the years numerous completed clutches of eggs have been found at Mallowdale contained in abandoned nesting scrapes. The number of adult breeding Peregrines which continue to mysteriously disappear without trace from the territory each spring is alarming.
Roeburndale together with Mallowdale Pike, forms a part of the Abbeystead estate and is used by the estate for shooting, predominantly Red Grouse. Under normal circumstances, Mallowdale’s remote and isolated location should provide a safe haven for breeding peregrines.
Looking down on Mallowdale Pike from Gallows Hill, with Higher Salter, Higher Thrushgill together with Whitray Fell in the background
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