It seems that Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) are now moving from the countryside into our towns and cities here in the UK. Numerous reports of nesting pairs are cropping up all over the country, and to try and help the plight of these birds, 2 pairs are undergoing closer scrutiny than they would normally. Apparently towns and cities are great for peregrines as they offer the high-spots in which they like to nest and perch, offering great views of the surrounding areas (so that they can spot any potential predators as well as prey).

In more great birds of prey news, a batch of white tailed sea eagles have been released into the wild in Scotland (BBC report here). This is part of a project aiming to re-introduce the bird back to eastern Scotland. All the birds have been tagged and can therefore be tracked so that members of the project team can watch their progress and monitor where they end up.

Fantastic news from the RSPB (here) about the re-introduction of red kites to Northern Ireland. Previously missing from Northern Ireland for the past 200 years, their re-introduction is an important step in ensuring the survival of the species. And if you’re in the area of the Clarkhill Valley then you might want to pop along to Bannastown Road, Castlewellan between Friday 22nd August and Monday 25th August (11am - 4pm each day), or every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday thereafter, to view these birds in this spectacular setting.

Great news indeed, and another success story for the continuing work of the RSPB with birds of prey.

Once again it seems that one of the most iconic birds of prey to live in the UK is under increased threat. In a report titled The Golden Eagle Framework, Scottish Natural Heritage notes that the continued persecution of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in Scotland is effectively threatening their continued existence in the UK. Only 440 pairs are known to be breeding in the UK, all in Scotland. An even sadder statistic is the fact that the UK population is just 1 male bird. And whilst the persecution continues in Scotland, the population cannot be effectively re-introduced to England.