Peregrines - season review 2018

I had meant to address this earlier in the year but it’s been a bit hectic in the Autumn of 2018 with the long holiday and moving out of the Flat whilst it was refurbished.
Now back home to a nice new Flat, things are returning back to the normal routine with a new year bringing on a breeding season fast approaching.



Peregrines – 2018 has not been a bad year, 13 sites produced a very healthy 32 juveniles averaging out at just over 2 per site so not a bad ratio.

Of the 13 sites, 8 used nest boxes that I had made, 2 were in Trays and the remaining 3 I classed as ‘natural’. One was a Carrion Crow nest, one was in pigeon guano on a balcony and the 3rd was laid on roof top substrate/moss.
The Parliament nest box was made by Brunel University, not wood but cardboard composite; it has been accepted and used by the pair now for the last 3 years.
Another 3 nest boxes were made last year, one was installed by Shaun and Paul with 2 waiting in the wings ready for installation, one of these is a replacement with the 3rd shortly to go up on a new site.

A big thanks to Paul and Shaun, couple of posers, had to work them a bit to get the best out of them.

Grounders or juveniles taken into care numbered 7, either myself or Paul returned them back to their respective nest sites; incredible work was again undertaken by Sue and the team at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital. 

The Thames juvenile, a very lucky bird

One juvenile had to be fostered with a new family of 4; it was an only sibling, it spent 3 weeks in the Hospital recovering from a dodgy maiden flight. After recuperating, I was a bit concerned at the time, of it going back and adults accepting it again, furthermore locating them on the release and access could have been an issue, hence the new family. 

The foster family of 4 siblings worked a treat, it was accepted straight away, it now had ‘siblings’ to interact with and learn from as well. I had fostered twice before at this site as well in the past, so the pair had a proven track record.
This juvenile was noticeably darker plumage and gave me a lot of pleasure following it around in the next few months, quite a sight with 5 juveniles gracing the sky often with the adults in attendance.

Released back, this was the bird that crash landed in a Balcony trashing all the Flowers

So another year is with us, February 1st they all come under licence again, breeding is such a long commitment, especially when you consider that some, like the Battersea Power Station juvenile, have seen the New Year in.