15/03/2005 - A pair of
Peregrines that are being encouraged to settle
in a top secret location in East London are
going to be given the Big Brother treatment
as of today (Tuesday March 15) with the installation
of CCTV in their love nest.
The Environment Agency first noticed the peregrines
at one of its sites in 2003. It was hoped
that the birds would nest in the area, but
the birds, which prefer to nest in shallow
soil known as ‘scrape’, found the available
surface unsuitable. To rectify this the Environment
Agency and English Nature set up a nest box
in February 2004. This box attempts to emulate
this ‘scrape’ and will hopefully encourage
nesting.
Should nesting be successful the CCTV, a
joint initiative between the Environment Agency,
English Nature and the London Peregrine Group,
will provide live footage of the birds. This
will eventually be streamed to all of the
organisations involved, including the Learning
Centre at the Thames Barrier site – providing
a valuable educational resource for visiting
school children.
Peregrine falcons, one of the fastest birds
in the world, have been a protected species
since the 1960s, when numbers were at an all
time low due largely to the use of certain
pesticides. These pesticides have now been
banned, and Peregrine numbers have recovered
well. However, these magnificent birds of
prey remain under threat of illegal attacks,
meaning that Peregrine sites are often kept
secret. This site is no different, and just
the like the Channel 4 Big Brother house,
the location of the nest remains under wraps
in order to protect the birds of prey.
Environment Agency flood defence engineer
Jason Convey has played a key role in initiating
the scheme, and is pleased to see his efforts
coming to fruition. “Of course, this is just
one example of the types of conservation work
the Environment Agency does, but as a flood
defence engineer, my day job usually consists
of helping to reduce the risk of flooding
in the area. It has been an exciting scheme
for all involved, and being able to observe
the Peregrines at close quarters is something
we are all looking forward to.”
Peter Massini from English Nature said: “Peregrine
falcons now frequently nest in urban areas,
but there are very few places that provide
them with the level of security needed. The
CCTV at this protected site will hopefully
provide us with an opportunity to learn more
about the habits of Peregrines nesting in
urban areas, and of course help to ensure
their safety and wellbeing.”
David Morrison from the London Peregrine
Group said: “This scheme is an excellent example
of organisations working together to achieve
a great outcome that really benefits London’s
urban wildlife. It will allow us to learn
even more about the habits and activity of
these magnificent birds. We will be watching
eagerly to see if nesting is successful and
if the birds truly make their home at the
site.”
