falcons

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Peregrine falcons in Rochdale

Peregrine falcons have been nesting outside the clock tower at Rochdale Town Hall since 2008. The birds have attracted considerable public interest and they're regularly seen soaring above Rochdale town centre hunting for food. We built a nesting area for the birds in 2008 to help provide them a safe haven to sleep, breed and raise their young. As the tallest building in Rochdale town centre, the town hall reflects the peregrine's natural habitat to breed and hunt prey.

Our award winning Revealing the Roch project was praised for renaturalising the river and helping to bring wildlife back to the town centre. More about Revealing the Roch.

Latest update: Rochdale Town Hall webcam

Our ambitious regeneration project at Rochdale Town Hall is underway, with the major restoration set to transform the grade 1 listed building. Throughout this vital work the safety, wellbeing and health of the nesting peregrine falcons remains a key priority. As such, we have appointed a renowned ecologist, to ensure the monitoring of the falcons’ nesting area takes place.

Unfortunately, due to the work impacting on the regular power supply we are currently unable to provide live footage of the birds through the webcam. We'll share further updates on social media so as nature lovers you're reassured on the birds’ wellbeing and can continue to follow the lives of falcons throughout the nesting period and beyond.”

You can access our social media accounts using the Twitter hashtag #rochfalcons or on Facebook. You can also join the chat on the RSPB website.

Nesting period

The birds are most active at the start of the breeding season from March. Egg-laying typically occurs by the end of March to early April with hatching usually occurring during the first week of May.

Falcon facts

In May 2019 there were 3 young chicks that hatched, and they were ringed on Thursday, 23 May 2019 by the British Trust for Ornithology. The ringing is undertaken safely, and within the law, by qualified experts. It enables them to keep track of the birds over the coming months and years.
Peregrines are the world's fastest living creatures, often reaching speeds of 200mph in stoop.
They feed off medium-sized birds, such as wading birds, pigeons and small ducks.
60 years ago the birds nearly died out across the northern hemisphere. The numbers recovered and there are estimated to be 1,500 breeding pairs in the UK.
Peregrines are increasingly found breeding on tall buildings in towns and cities, as well as on ledges and cliffs. The peregrine is afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
It's an offence to intentionally take, injure or kill a peregrine or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young. It's also an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to their nest during the breeding season. Violation of the law can attract fines up to £5000 per offence and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months.

Winners of the 'name the falcon chicks competition' 2020

Thanks to everyone who entered the 'name the falcon chick' competition. In 2020, we named the adult birds as well as the chicks.

The winning names for the competition are:

Name of falcon	Winners
Florence - adult bird	Lisa Goddard
Alfie - adult bird	Eliza Slater
Dino-soar - chick	Deb Booth
Beaky Blinder - chick	Stephanie Heys, Rosa Ashworth and Lilia Ramos

Hollingworth Lake

Visit Hollingworth Lake - it’s stocked with coarse fish and you can see a variety of water fowl. There’s also a small hide overlooking a natural area where boats and water sports are excluded