One 'flu over the peregrine's nest

If you have read our two previous blog posts (here and here), you will be aware that our resident female peregrine falcon at the time was found dead on 12th December and that it was sent off for testing (and that a new female has arrived already to replace her).

We have now been told by Defra that the dead female had indeed contracted bird flu, presumably picked up from one of its prey. 
Certainly we know that other urban peregrines have died from bird flu elsewhere in the UK (in Poole and Leicester for example).

Given the range and number of birds that peregrine falcons prey upon, this is not entirely unexpected. However, it may well be that some peregrines have built up a degree of immunity to the disease over time as have some other species. 

Although clearly this wasn't the case with our (former) female, let us hope the resident male and his new mate will not suffer the same fate. So far, so good.....

More than 50 bird species have been identified with bird flu in the UK this year and they include species which peregrine falcons take such as duck, gulls and woodcock and other wading birds.  At Derby, especially in autumn, we have found the remains of numerous woodcock over the years. These night migrants fly to the UK from Scandinavia, Poland and Russia each autumn after their breeding season. As they head inland from the east coast, we suspect they are drawn to the bright lights of our cities or follow rivers and other topographical features. 

                     A woodcock, one of thousands that fly to the UK for the winter.
                                    This one was killed by flying into a window.

Derby Cathedral tower is lit with upwards facing floodlighting, and of course Derby City itself is incredibly brightly lit at night. This makes it easy for the peregrines to spot these night migrants as they fly overhead and to fly out and grab them. 

In the winter of 2009, we managed to capture webcam footage of a live woodcock being brought back to the tower just before midnight one December evening where it was then despatched and left. It wasn't eaten until several days later but the weather at the time was very cold so it would have remained quite fresh!
The video of the live woodcock being brought back can be seen below but beware it is a little gory to watch:

 

Some readers might also be unaware that this 2009 video clip was a 'world first' - the first ever published video evidence of a peregrine falcon catching and killing live prey at night time. Read more here
 

Please scroll down to the previous blog post which updates you about the new female that has arrived.

The Project Team 

This Project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with The Cathedral and the IT Team at Derby City Council, and the Derby Cathedral Quarter as partners.