8/29/2023 0 Comments Falcon bird of prey![]() “One of the most spectacular hunts I’ve ever seen is from the power station chimneys. If a particularly large flock breaks away, “it gets too much for the peregrines and they are off in pursuit”, says Morrison. As we gaze at the peregrine, flocks of feral pigeons scurry through the air just below her. Alongside his nest sites, an all-you-can-eat urban buffet is the main reason the birds are thriving. They hunt at dawn, before work starts at 8am, and then “sit up there watching the world go by”, says Morrison. Peregrine falcon chicks at nesting in London. “They will even hunt from the cranes here. “There are very few other species that would adapt and wouldn’t just go,” says Morrison. “It’s nature, isn’t it? You can’t predict what they are going to do.” But the birds took up residence in his new nestbox and have successfully bred there ever since. ![]() When the birds finished breeding that year, Morrison closed off their old nest and waited. The Battersea Power Station Development Company spent more than £100,000 on a relocation plan, building the mast at exactly the same height as the old nest in the quietest corner of the construction site. Battersea’s peregrines nested just below one of its famous towers but the chimneys needed to be taken down and rebuilt as part of the power station’s transformation. Six years ago, he retired and became a full-time peregrine consultant and ecologist. Once they “hold” a territory, they sometimes struggle to breed successfully without a purpose-built nestbox, so Morrison provided some. Under his watch, pairs of this fiercely territorial bird have taken up residence on high buildings. He contacted Natural England, the government’s wildlife watchdog, and began surveying urban peregrines. He’d always loved birds, and knew that this rare bird enjoys the highest legal protection. He was a steel fixer on a construction site in Battersea when he discovered they were nesting in the then derelict power station. Morrison is one of the reasons for the peregrine boom in London, alongside volunteers for the London Peregrine Partnership, which also monitors the birds. She’s in her prime,” says Morrison, admiringly. Over the past three years, this bird has successfully fledged 11 chicks. And the female is a third bigger than the male. Peregrines will bully and sometimes kill much bigger birds, from buzzards to crows. This alpha female is the most powerful wild bird in London. The peregrine peers over the edge, cocking its head to size us up with one enormous eye. We walk closer to the metal mast topped by a wooden nestbox. It’s spring, and the peregrines of Battersea are laying eggs. Species of eagle, the golden eagle for being one of the largest species of eagle, and the martial eagle that has exceptionally powerful eyes.David Morrison carrying out the ‘falcon recovery plan’. South Nicobar serpent eagle which holds the distinction of being the smallest Some of the most famous eagle species include the Eagles are typically larger than other birds of prey with the Eagles have a wide range of habitat thatĮncompasses several nations such as the US, Papua New Guinea, Canada, andĪustralia. Due to their imposing presence,Įagles have been used as the national symbol in some countries such as the United States ( bald eagle), ![]() Mainly due to their large size and strength. EaglesĮagles are some of the famous raptors in the world Some of the most well-known raptors include eagles, owls, kites, and hawks. Apart from hunting prey, birds of prey may also rely on carrion as the source of food. Other common features include talons that enable them to grab their prey and later kill them. Raptors have some common characteristics such as their exceptionally keen eyesight which allows them to spot prey from far. The word raptor has its roots in the Latin language from the word rapere which refers to taking an object by force. Some of the most frequently located are the birds of prey which are often referred to as raptors. Birds are some of the most commonly spotted animals around the world as they can be found in most of the world's regions.
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