Peregrine falcon chicks named

The three chicks have now been named

The latest cast of Rochdale’s peregrine falcon chicks have been named.

Three chicks hatched earlier this year and a contest was launched to name the birds.

The young falcons have been called Kevin Beakon, Striker and BuckBeak, after the fictional Hippogriff made famous by Harry Potter, that bears more than a passing resemblance to a peregrine chick.

A magical creature, a Hippogriff has the front legs, wings, and head of a giant eagle and the body, hind legs and tail of a horse.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Thanks to everyone who chirped up and entered our name the peregrine falcon chick competition. The names soared in and we are thrilled to announce our feathered friends will be called Kevin Beakon, Striker and BuckBeak.”

The birds have been ringed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), so their progress can be followed as they fledge before flying the nest around July 2018.

The ringing is undertaken safely, and within the law, by qualified experts. It enables the RSPB to keep track of the birds over the coming months and years.

The birds are most active at the start of the breeding season from February and March with egg-laying typically occurring by the end of March to early April.

Hatching usually takes place during the first week of May. Once hatched, the chicks are likely to take their first flight within six weeks.

One of around 1,500 breeding pairs across the UK, falcons have nested at the clock tower of the Grade-I listed building for more than a decade and are regularly seen soaring above the town centre as they hunt for food. 

As the tallest building in Rochdale town centre, the Town Hall reflects the birds’ natural habitat to breed and hunt prey. A nesting area was built for the birds, helping to provide them a safe haven to sleep, breed and raise their young.

Reaching speeds of up to 200mph during dives to catch prey, peregrine falcons are the fastest animals in the world. Although they are commonly found living and hunting in open countryside, they are increasingly being spotted in towns and cities where tall buildings provide plenty of nesting opportunities and pigeons to feed on.