Up and running - a new nest box for 2026!

Webcam view inside the new "tower top box"

This week, we finally completed work on the construction of our brand new peregrine falcon nest box. A live webcamera is also now operational there, too (SEE HERE).

The new "tower top box" nearing completion.

We first had to abseil down to the old platform to remove the collapsing base that was originally filled with heavy pea gravel. This essential task was needed to prevent the falcon attempting to lay eggs there, and to encourage them to find and relocate to our new nest site. Quite simply, any eggs would have rolled off had they tried to lay there. We also took away the main webcam (NEST CAM1) and repositioned it inside the new tower box.

Ecologist and experienced caver, Jess Eades,
helping to remove the old platform base (see video below).

Having spent the last three months planning, gaining approval and then building this new nest box, all we can do now is hope our pair of peregrines will find and start to use it. We can do no more.

Whatever happens next, we do expect to have to dismantle this new box come summer 2026 so that the Cathedral tower can have new boardwalking installed. We will then consider our options for subsequent nesting seasons, as it would be wonderful never to have to abseil down to ring the chicks again.

Looking out from the rear
of the new tower top box.

Design considerations: Of key concern to us was not to unduly impact the visual appearance of the Cathedral tower. For that reason we set back the box by a metre so as not to affect the iconic tower outline when seen from below. We also painted the exterior timbers so it would merge in better with the tower stonework. 

Timberwork near the nest that could potentially be nibbled by the nesting birds are made from untreated wood, whilst those more exposed to the elements, and less likely to be nibbled, are pre-treated against rot.

A hinged door has been built into the back of the nest box for maintenance and chick-ringing, whilst part of the 'landing platform' can also be lifted up for access should it be required. A small wide-angle door viewer was installed into the rear door so we can quickly check if any birds are present. 

Acknowledgments: We are obviously grateful to the Chapter of Derby Cathedral for their enthusiastic support for our Peregrine Project, and especially to Jessica Kilmurray, their Head of Operations, and all the vergers for handing over tower keys at a moment's notice.

Nick Evans has been a stalwart helper ever since he built our first (experimental) nest platform, way back in 2006. He built a replacement in 2010; removed all the gravel from the collapsing platform last November, and then helped us to construct our new design this year.

Thanks also to Anthony Pooles and Roger Lawson for their help as 'gofers', taking innumerable trips to carry timber and tools up to the tower roof, and to Jess Eades and Ian Ferguson for their help with the abseil this week.

Diane Gould at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has been incredibly encouraging in her oversight of the Project.

Finally, thanks to all of you - our scattered band of webcam watchers and blog post perusers  - who give us so much feedback on what's happening, almost on an hour by hour basis. We know we can rely on you to keep us informed or to pose pertinent questions.

The Peregrine Project Team
(Nick Moyes & Nick Brown)

The Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with its partners, the Cathedral and the City Council's IT team.