Rochdale’s peregrine falcons lay first egg of year on Good Friday

The nesting peregrine falcons with their first egg of 2020

The first peregrine falcon egg of 2020 has been laid today (Friday 10 April), ready for the Easter weekend.

One of around 1,500 breeding pairs across the UK, falcons have nested at the clock tower of the Grade-I listed building for more than a decade and are regularly seen soaring above the town centre as they hunt for food. 

The egg is the first between this pairing of falcons, as the previous adult male of the pair sadly died last summer.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/128861/peregrine-falcon-died-due-to-infection-postmortem-reveals

Although falcons pair for life, the surviving bird can accept a new mate – which the female did later that year.

A live webcam tracks the birds’ progress as they raise their chicks at the top of the historic Town Hall clock tower, reflecting the birds’ natural habitat to breed and hunt prey. A nesting area was built for the birds, helping to provide them a safe haven to sleep, breed and raise their young.

The birds are most active at the start of the breeding season from February and March with egg-laying typically occurring by the end of March to early April.

Hatching usually takes place during the first week of May. Once hatched, the chicks are likely to take their first flight within six weeks.

You can view the birds’ progress at:

• www.rochdale.gov.uk/falcons