Wildlife Welfare

Wild Peregrine UK Breeding Welfare

Peregrine falcons have recovered from near-extinction following the ban on organochlorine pesticides, and UK breeding populations are now supplemented by urban nesting birds.

Key Facts

UK peregrine numbers have recovered from a low of around 360 pairs in 1963 to over 1,500
Urban peregrines nest on cathedral towers, office buildings and power stations
Illegal persecution on driven grouse moors remains a significant welfare concern
Peregrines benefit from prey population health - clean food chains without rodenticide contamination
Nest monitoring programmes protect breeding pairs during the vulnerable early period

Welfare Considerations

Peregrines recovering on UK moorland remain vulnerable to illegal poisoning and disturbance at nest sites. Each breeding pair lost to persecution represents both a direct welfare harm to the individuals killed and a population-level setback. Monitoring programmes that detect persecution early and protect breeding pairs directly benefit individual welfare and support continued population recovery.

What You Can Do

Report suspected raptor persecution to RSPB or police wildlife crime officers
Support nest monitoring volunteer programmes protecting peregrine breeding sites
Advocate for stronger enforcement of wildlife crime legislation