Competition launched to name falcon chicks

The two falcon chicks enjoying life at Rochdale Town Hall

The council’s annual name the peregrine falcon chick competition has been launched after two chicks successfully hatched in the nesting area at Rochdale Town Hall 10 days ago.

Nature lovers are being challenged to come up with interesting names for the young birds, whose progress is followed by thousands of people on the council’s live webcam.

Entries flocked in from across the UK and beyond last year, with judges voting the winning names as ‘Pegasus’ ‘Swoop dog’ and ‘Tweety Pioneer’.

The deadline for competition entries is midnight on Sunday 14 June with winning entries announced by Friday 19 June.

Peregrine falcons have nested at Rochdale Town Hall since 2008 and, since 2016, the webcam has shown live footage of the birds enjoying life at the top of the Grade-I listed building.

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for culture, said: “We are very proud of our work to promote the lives of the peregrine falcons. It has provided a good deal of interest to residents and, in particular, local schools. Our falcons’ information is one of the most read pages on our website, with avid followers from the USA, Australia and Canada and many other countries.”

She added. “The falcon webcam has really helped get a positive message about our borough to a global audience. I am expecting added interest in the competition this year, which will hopefully provide a nice focal point for people during the lockdown. As always the judges will be open minded on the names, but I would suggest the quirkier the better, so get your thinking caps on and let’s see those entries flooding in."

Suggestions for chick names can be emailed to falcons@rochdale.gov.uk or sent the council’s Facebook page or submitted on Twitter using the hashtag #RochFalcons.

Full details on how to enter and all the competition terms and conditions can be found at:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/falcons