Webcam gives bird’s eye view of town hall’s peregrine falcons

Rochdale Council is providing a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the magnificent peregrine falcons nesting at the top of the town hall.

A live webcam is tracking the birds’ progress throughout the nesting period, as they raise their young at the top of town’s most historic building.

The falcons, often spotted soaring above the town centre on the hunt for food, are most active at the start of the breeding season during February and March.

Their egg-laying typically happens during late March or early April, while the chicks usually hatch during the first week of May.

The nesting period comes to an end in August.

Councillor Janet Emsley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, said it was ‘great’ to have the falcons nesting at the top of the town hall.

She said: “The webcam is viewed by thousands of people a week, as they enjoy the spectacular sight of our feathered friends.

“We will be posting regular falcon bulletins over the coming weeks and our name the chick’s competition will again be taking flight in the summer. As a council we are proud that our live webcam brings joy to so many nature lovers.”

Peregrine falcons have been nesting outside the clock tower at Rochdale Town Hall for more than 10 years.

The council built a nesting area for the birds in 2008, to provide them with a safe place to sleep, breed and raise their young.

 

 

The predatory falcons hunt from above, making the town hall, Rochdale’s tallest building, the ideal habitat for them.

They can reach speeds in excess of 200mph when they drop into a rapid hunting dive, known as a stoop.

Judith Smith, of the Manchester Raptor Group, said the live webcam was a ‘brilliant initiative’ which would captivate bird lovers across the land.

She added: “It’s great to see the falcons nesting at the top of Rochdale Town Hall which provides them with the perfect bird’s eye view over the town centre and beyond.

“I will be avidly following the lives of these beautiful birds over the coming months.”

Two years ago a chick, later named ‘Millenium Falcon’, captivated webcam viewers when it twice had to be rescued after falling from the 240ft clock towner.

To follow the birds, visit:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/features/Pages/peregrine-falcons-in-rochdale.aspx

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter