How fast can a peregrine falcon fly? One scientist aims to find out by skydiving along with the birds.

via YouTube – High-Velocity Falcon.

A Peregrine Falcon repeatedly divebombs a flock of starlings coming home to roost. Shot at dusk from the racetrack roof of the old FIAT factory in Torino Italy. Starlings roost in the center atrium of the building at night.

via YouTube – Falcon Attack: Peregrine Divebombs Flock of Starlings.

Peregrine falcons nesting on top of Keybridge House

by VivaVauxhall – July 4th, 2010

Since 2001 the Peregrine Falcon has bred in increasing numbers in London. They nest on the ledges of tall buildings that are the equivalent in cities of their more traditional cliff breeding sites. Their success is due to the abundance of their preferred food (the feral/street pigeon) and the actions of people working on their behalf.

Two adult peregrine falcons and four youngsters are currently in residence on the roof of Keybridge House in South Lambeth Road and BT, who owns the building, have been very helpful and built them a nesting ledge.

Adrian Morgan of the London Peregrine Partnership told us: ‘This is the time when the youngsters are most vulnerable as they are taking currently their first flights.  If they come down to ground level they are unable to get sufficient lift to fly back up again and have to be rescued.  The first few days after the youngsters fledge are critical, but we are now getting to the end of that period and they are becoming quite successful flyers.’

via Viva Vauxhall.

A petition has been launched to help stop a peregrine falcon nest box from being taken down from the tallest building in Sussex – the aptly named Sussex Heights in Brighton.

Sussex Heights has been home to a number of breeding pairs of peregrine falcons since the mid 1990s and a nest box was put there in 1998 and has been used yearly by the birds ever since.

At the time of writing 672 people have added their names to the petition, which was started one week ago in response to news that maintenance work could mean the removal of the nesting box.

The petition explains that the rare falcons are an important wildlife to have in Brighton for both educational and conservational reasons. It also warns that the falcons may be unsuccessful if they still attem

via News From Brighton » Search Results » peregrine.

As well as protecting the falcons on Sussex Heights (The Argus, Janaury 20) there should be more falcon boxes on all the high points in Brighton and Hove. The council should take a lead and install them, then encourage the private sector to do so, too.

Roy Pennington

Hendon Street, Brighton

via High fliers (From The Argus).

Petition launched to save peregrine falcons

A petition has been launched to help stop a peregrine falcon nest box from being taken down from the tallest building in Sussex – the aptly named Sussex Heights in Brighton.

Sussex Heights has been home to a number of breeding pairs of peregrine falcons since the mid 1990s and a nest box was put there in 1998 and has been used yearly by the birds ever since.

At the time of writing 672 people have added their names to the petition, which was started one week ago in response to news that maintenance work could mean the removal of the nesting box.

via Brighton News, Reviews and Comment: Petition launched to save peregrine falcons.

Peregrine Falcons investigation by BBC from Tom Coady on Vimeo.

Katherine Downes, journalist of BBC South East Today looking at the story of the Sussex Heights Peregrines – that their nestbox may be removed while maintenance work is carried out on the roof. This means the peregrines may be forced to nest elsewhere this year, and residents are angry about that.

BBC version:

South East Today 20100120 1827 from Tom Coady on Vimeo.

Youtube version

falcons from Tom Coady on Vimeo.

ITV version:

Meridian Tonight 20100120 1759 from Tom Coady on Vimeo.