Wildlife

Wild Peregrine: Urban Nesting, Prey Welfare and Coexistence

Urban peregrine falcons have established successfully in UK cities, raising both conservation success and prey welfare questions.

Key Facts

Over 100 peregrine pairs now nest in UK cities on buildings and bridges
Urban peregrines prey primarily on pigeons and starlings
Nest cameras on urban ledges allow welfare monitoring and public engagement
Peregrines kill prey rapidly with the cervical dislocation of the stoop bite

Welfare Considerations

Urban peregrine recovery is a conservation success story. Prey death from peregrine predation is rapid compared to many other mortality sources for urban birds. Nest cameras enable welfare monitoring and early detection of human-caused threats including pigeon shooting.

What You Can Do

Support RSPB and local wildlife trusts monitoring urban peregrine nests
Report any suspected shooting near peregrine nest sites to the police
Provide nest platform structures on suitable urban buildings to support nesting