Rochdale’s peregrine falcons have laid four eggs

Rochdale’s peregrine falcons have laid four eggs for 2019 as of Monday (1 April).

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

A live webcam tracks the birds’ progress as they raise their chicks at the top of the historic clock tower, reflecting 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.

 

 

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.

The first egg was laid this year on Friday 22 March.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/126837/rochdales-famed-peregrine-falcons-lay-first-egg-of-year

Three chicks hatched last year and were named Kevin Beakon, Striker and BuckBeak, following on from the four chicks that hatched in 2017 which were named Perrie, Freddie Falcon, Millennium Falcon and El Superfasto.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/119627/peregrine-falcon-chicks-named
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/111411/sarah-pugh-and-abbie-taylor-winners-of-name-the-peregrine-falcon-chick-competition

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

You can view the birds’ progress at:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/falcons