Chicks spread their wings at Malham Cove
The three Peregrine falcon chicks born in Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are starting to take to the skies.
The youngsters have been seen to make their first flights by staff and volunteers from the RSPB and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) who run a special free peregrine watch viewpoint at the Cove.
Ian Court, one of the YDNPA’s Wildlife Conservation Officers, said: “It is great news that the young birds are now starting to fly. It means that over the coming weeks, visitors to the viewpoint will be treated to spectacular views of the birds as they practice their flying skills overhead.
“There will be a lot to see as the parent birds gradually teach them the finer points of flying and hunting.”
Carolyn Jarvis, the RSPB’s People Engagement Manager for Northern England, said: “It’s wonderful to see another successful year for the Malham peregrines, they really are amazing birds to watch, especially in flight and in such a beautiful setting. However, if people can’t get down there, they can see some great images on the Malham Peregrine Watch Facebook group so should check that out too.”
The viewpoint, which last year attracted 16,500 visitors, is manned by YDNPA and RSPB staff and volunteers between 10.30am and 4.30pm from Wednesdays to Sundays inclusive (weather permitting) until 31 July so that people can watch the birds through high-powered telescopes.
Peregrines are the fastest animals in the world and have been recorded at speeds over 200 miles an hour, approximately three times as fast as a cheetah.
They started nesting at the Cove 18 years ago and since then they have raised 37 young. But they are not the only winged attraction there – there are green woodpeckers, cliff-nesting house martins and little owls as well as redstarts and swifts.
Visitors – in particular photographers – are being asked to play their part in helping this years nesting attempt by not getting too close to the nest site. The British Mountaineering Council has once again agreed temporary rock climbing restrictions around the nesting site to avoid disturbing the Peregrines, and an area at the top of the cliff has been sealed off
North Yorkshire Police will be working closely with the YDNPA and RSPB and are advising visitors to the Cove to look out for and take notice of any signage on site.
The project is run in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority as part of the RSPB’s Date with Nature programme of events, which makes rare and spectacular birds accessible for everyone to see.
More information about the Malham Peregrines can be found at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/peregrines and they will be featured on the National Park Authority’s Twitter page using the #malhamperegrines and the RSPB’s Facebook group Malham Peregrine Watch.
