We have been keeping our eyes peeled for the last few weeks but unfortunately we now believe our peregrines have not survived the winter season due to their age. This year our male would have been 19 years and our female, 15 years, which is an incredible age for these amazing birds of prey. Peregrines would normally reach a maximum of around 12 years, so our pair far exceeded that. Because they have not reappeared, we are going to postpone the Peregrine Launch 2016 event on Saturday and the opening of our People’s Postcode Lottery Peregrine Watch. We are hopeful that a new pair of peregrines will come along later in the season, possibly in the next few weeks!

For anyone who was interested in volunteering this year, we would very much appreciate any help, ‘keeping an eye out’ on the reserve and in the surrounding area for new prospecting peregrines. We would still encourage folks to spend some time up there and we have a sightings log for folks to record any peregrines or other wildlife they might have seen. Although our watch site will be unmanned, we have put up our peregrine clue trail that leads visitors to the watch site and there will be some information at the watch on peregrine identification and what to look out for.

We will keep you up to date with peregrine news but you can also visit our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/TheFallsOfClyde. Although it is sad to think these birds are no longer with us, it now gives the opportunity for other peregrines to come in and take their place at a site that is protected. The persecution of peregrines is still common in Scotland, so our hope is to be able to protect a pair of successfully breeding peregrines once more.

Laura Preston – Scottish Wildlife Trust, Falls of Clyde Ranger
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