New pair of breeding peregrine falcons and two chicks are found in the Peak District

A new pair of breeding peregrine falcons along with two chicks have been found in the Peak District.
Peregrine falcon chick found on the High Peak Moors of the Peak District. Photo by Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group.Peregrine falcon chick found on the High Peak Moors of the Peak District. Photo by Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group.
Peregrine falcon chick found on the High Peak Moors of the Peak District. Photo by Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group.

The discovery on the High Peak Moors takes the total number of successful breeding pairs in the National Park to six. This is double the average since the Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative began reporting in 2012.

This year, three pairs have bred successfully on land owned by the National Trust with a fourth pair breeding on land close by.

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Volunteers from the Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group (PDRMG) found the nest on land cared for by the National Trust. The chicks were estimated to be around 25 days old and doing well.

Kait Jones, who is Peak District area ranger for the National Trust, said: “The discovery of the latest two chicks was really exciting. Identifying a new breeding pair along with two healthy chicks is very promising for their future in this area. While the location is thankfully remote, it is not where we’d expect to find a nest.

“We think they may have chosen the site partly because of the lack of disturbance earlier in the year during lockdown when wildlife had the place to themselves. Together with our partners from the local Raptor Monitoring Group and our tenants, we’re doing everything we can to keep them safe.

“It’s vital that any visitors who may come across the sites keep their distance at this key time in the chick’s development. If the parents are disturbed, they may not return to feed the youngsters and they will sadly die.”

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Working in partnership with the National Trust, and licensed by the British Trust for Ornithology and Natural England, volunteers from the PDRMG have ringed the birds so they can be monitored,

Peregrines are the largest wild falcons to breed regularly in the UK and can fly at more than 200mph.

Jon Stewart, general manager for the National Trust in the Peak District, said: “The fact that this and other birds of prey are making their home here in the Dark Peak is a sign that our High Peak Moors Vision of maintaining a healthy, natural environment is paying off for wildlife.

“The peregrine is one of the most exciting species of the moors so it is brilliant to have a new breeding pair.”