Birdwatch News Archive

A Peregrine pair has made the first-ever confirmed successful breeding record for Glasgow. Photo by Martin Lindner (commons.wikimedia.org).

First-ever Peregrine chick fledged Glasgow

Birdwatch news team
Posted on: 28 Jul 2012

A pair of Peregrine Falcons, which set up home in Glasgow’s Red Road flats, has raised what is believed to be the city’s first-ever Peregrine chick, the RSPB has reported.

The birds of prey became surprise tenants of the multi-story flats, found in the north of the city, after nesting on the 24th floor of the 27-storey building. Traditionally nesting on cliff edges, Peregrine’s have responded to increasing urbanisation by adopting tall buildings, such as blocks of flats and church spires, as breeding sites. Despite several rumours, there are no confirmed breeding reports of the species in Glasgow.

Local resident Steven McGrath first spotted the birds, which are relatively new additions to Scotland’s cities, late last year.

Steven said: “I’d noticed the Peregrines were spending a lot of time around the flats. As the first block was due to be demolished I was concerned the birds might be at risk if they decided to nest within them, so I decided to contact RSPB Scotland and others for advice.

“I’ve never heard of these birds breeding in Glasgow so I wanted to do everything I could to make sure they were successful.”

Great care was taken to safeguard the nest site. Steven and volunteers of the Central Scotland Raptor Study Group installed a research camera to monitor the nest. Despite one egg failing at an early stage, the pair successfully raised a single chick, which left the nest on 12 July. The block of flats is due to be demolished by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) as part of the ongoing regeneration of the city.

William Sinclair, Managing Director of demolition contractor Safedem, said: “Our staff at Red Road kept in regular and close contact with Steven and the RSPB officers. We provided protective measures and controlled access to the building in order to monitor and record the progress of our Peregrine family. I'm delighted that, with such care and commitment from everyone involved, the chick is thriving.”

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1 comments so far...

1.swilks123

29 Jul 2012 20:47

Utter nonsense - the "first" peregrines to fledge a chick in Glasgow.
The refurbishment of a listed building in Glasgow Green in the 1980s was halted as peregrines had a chick; royston road flats had a breeding pair for eight years; the red road flats has had peregrines for two decades; there was another pair a pal of mine showed me, complete with chick, onthe south side of the city.
And finally, there was a time when Glasgow had all manner of raptors, pre-industrial revolution, so whoever put that press release out for the RSPB needs re-educating.
Any other site users know about peregrines in Glasgow, cos there are far more than the RSPB seem to be aware of

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