Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project

The peregrine is our probably our most charismatic bird of prey. It suffered a rapid demise in the 1950s and 60s due to the use of persistent pesticides, and by the 1970s, peregrines were so scarce that for several years not a single bird was seen in the county. After the pesticides were banned peregrine numbers started to slowly recover.

Since then peregrines have been making a welcome return to their former haunts. In 1984, after an absence of 30 years a pair bred again in the Peak District. By 2004, there were at least 15 nests, the birds using ledges on natural cliffs and quarry faces. Further south a pair adopted Willington Power Station's cooling towers, nesting there between 1993 and 2000, and rearing a total of ten young until the station was decommissioned.

Today peregrines can be seen across the county, both in our wild spaces and urban centres, Chesterfield as well as Derby, but sadly like the goshawk and hen harrier, they continue to be persecuted and still need our help. 

The Derby Cathedral peregrines can be seen from the ground by going to Cathedral Green, behind the Cathedral, and looking up with binoculars.

When the chicks show above the front of the nest platform, we run regular ‘Watch Point’ events providing telescopes so visitors get a close up view.

They also often perch on the lettering on the Jury's Inn Hotel nearby and are sometimes clearly visible as you drive into Derby on the A52.

However, by far the best way to catch a glimpse of these birds is via the webcams from home.

Watch the webcams

The webcams remain active all year and even in winter you can often see the parent birds on the tower. The cameras show both sides of the nest. A new camera giving a wide angled view of the nest was installed early in 2013.

The dates below will give you an idea of some seasonal highlights: 

• Mating - March 

• 1st egg laid - Late March / Early April 

• Last egg - Early April 

• 1st egg hatched - Early May 

• 1st chick fledged - June

• Learning to hunt - July 

Great question! 

The peregrines have been recorded taking 53 different kinds of birds including duck waders like snipe and lapwings, thrushes like fieldfares and redwings. They also take night flying birds like little grebes quail and even a water rail. They once brought in a rat – the only non-bird prey item we have ever recorded.

Take a look at what is on the menu

Unfortunately, not all interactions with wildlife are positive and in some cases, birds of prey are deliberately killed. We are working closely with Derbyshire Constabulary to ensure that wildlife crime is stopped in Derbyshire.