PEREGRINE FALCONS, WAKEFIELD CATHEDRAL, LIVE WEBCAM

More info: Peregrine falcons over-wintered on the cathedral spire in 2011. Wakefield Naturalists’ Society (WNS) and Wakefield Cathedral Chapter agreed on the provision of a nestbox to encourage the peregrines to breed. With financial help from a number of local businesses and individuals, WNS were able to install a nest platform on the east parapet of the cathedral tower. In 2015, a very young male peregrine arrived who had been ringed on 16 May 2014 at St George’s Church in Sheffield. He attracted a mature female to the nest box, where they bred and raised three chicks which fledged successfully.

A webcam was installed in time for the 2016 breeding season and live images from the nestbox of the adults and four juveniles were streamed to the internet for the first time in May 2016. In 2018 a second webcam was installed that shows live images of peregrine falcon activity on the east parapet near the nestbox.

The Wakefield peregrines normally lay their eggs in late March or early April but courtship and nest-scraping activities begin a month or two before that.

The young peregrine falcons stay in and around Wakefield for several weeks. They gradually become less dependent on their parents and they roam more widely.

In the British Isles peregrine falcons do not migrate, and the majority stay within 100 km of their birthplace, although some upland birds may move to lower ground or the coast in winter.

Additional Information :
Peregrine Falcon Facts - RSPB - rspb.org
Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus - ebird.org
Peregrine Falcon - The Peregrine Fund - peregrinefund.org