Thursday 18 June – today field workers visited one of the last peregrine territories in the Forest of Bowland still containing un-fledged young. The site established on a steep sandstone cliff is located in one of Bowland’s more remote moorland locations and is owned by United Utilities. The site when first examined in the spring contained 4 eggs. On today’s visit both parents were calling above the site as we approached the nesting cliff almost 300 m. away. Using binoculars we could see 3 large well feathered chicks perched on the edge of the nesting ledge almost ready to fledge. It was therefore decided after capturing several record images to proceed no further.
Continue reading Historic Bowland nesting site ready to fledge it’s 3 young
We have already reported in our earlier posts that site 7 has been one of a number of nesting sites subjected to persistent persecution and interference over the last two decades in the Forest of Bowland. In the last 10 seasons, despite eggs being laid at site 7 each year, only 3 young have managed to fledged successfully. We regret to report once again the two eggs contained in this years nest, although still being incubated, it is now 16 days after the clutch should have hatched. Continue reading Update – Private Site 7 – 06.06.09
We are extremely pleased to report the success of two fledged peregrine chicks at site 2 this week. Both chicks seen in our image highlights what can be done if the landowner is sympathetic to breeding raptors. This is the second year this pair of peregrines have been successful at this site. Last year 4 chicks [...]
Today licensed field workers visited two ground nesting Peregrine nests, in both instances each site was known to contain 4 healthy chicks, up until today that is!.
Site 1, previously photographed on United Utilities property, the second Site 3 located on a private and keepered Estate. Continue reading Private Estates – Persecution, United Utilities Estates – Salvation and Security (UU Site 1, Private Site 3) – 5.6.09
This pair of falcons who use the United Utilities estates for their breeding attempts have managed to produce just 1 chick out of 5 eggs laid this season. We are not sure how people reading this will perceive it but any one with even a small understanding of wild nesting birds will know that although clutches of eggs do [...]
Unfortunately the field worker who attended site 1 didn’t have his camera with him at the time so no images to accompany this update… We do apologise for this… However 2 healthy chicks are reported as of Sunday the 17th of May 2009. Further checks on the site will be carried out in the coming weeks. [...]
As mentioned before on this website, the United Utilities estates in the Forest Of Bowland are a flag ship body in helping the cause and breeding attempts of many schedule 1, protected raptors. It is without doubt THE last strong hold area for the Hen Harrier population and THE leading estates for production and breeding attempts by many different raptors throughout the forest of Bowland. Had the whole of Bowland become privately owned the state of Harrier numbers along with all other raptor numbers would be a very different picture today than it is. Continue reading Repeated Crimes or Natural Occurrence? UU Site 6
Checked earlier today – two chicks in good health. No sign of the [...]
Raptor persecution is not only confined to the Forest of Bowland, it has been happening in Cumbria for the whole of the 20th century, but more particularly in the northern Pennines which is the main area for game (grouse) shooting activities. Peregrine falcons that try to establish a breeding territory in the area get very short shrift from the persecutors and disappear very quickly.
In 2005 there were no young birds raised at any of the five sites on or adjacent to these Northern Pennine grouse moors. Sadly an adult female Peregrine was also found poisoned in the area. In addition one of only two that hatched young in 2006 had all 4 chicks stolen. Continue reading Raptor Persecution in the North Pennine Region
Quite obviously due to the issues raised by this website the safety and success of all nesting peregrines and other birds of prey in the Bowland area is our paramount concern. The safety and security of these birds will not under any circumstances be put at jeopardy by our group and we keep an avid keen eye on them to try and deter any unsavoury folk from perpetrating acts of persecution along with our scientific research (scientific research is not any sort of direct experiments, so don’t be alarmed. The recording of sites, eggs laid, chicks hatched and chicks fledged is the scientific ‘bit’). Continue reading UU Site 1 – 4 Healthy and advanced chicks but a long way to go! 18.5.09
Thursday 18 June – today field workers visited one of the last peregrine territories in the Forest of Bowland still containing un-fledged young. The site established on a steep sandstone cliff is located in one of Bowland’s more remote moorland locations and is owned by United Utilities. The site when first examined in the spring contained 4 eggs. On today’s visit both parents were calling above the site as we approached the nesting cliff almost 300 m. away. Using binoculars we could see 3 large well feathered chicks perched on the edge of the nesting ledge almost ready to fledge. It was therefore decided after capturing several record images to proceed no further.
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