Are you following the new Falls of Clyde blog?
A 24-hour stakeout to watch over a peregrine nest at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre, New Lanark, got off to an egg-citing start at the weekend (26 March) with the news that the resident pair of breeding peregrines had already laid two eggs.
Led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Peregrine Protection Officer, who will coordinate a team of up to 30 charity staff members and volunteers, the protection watch is made possible thanks to funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery and aims to protect the birds and their eggs from egg thieves and wildlife criminals.
The Falls of Clyde is one of the UK’s best peregrine watching sites, offering close up views of breeding peregrines thanks to a hide positions across from the bird’s favoured gorge-side nesting site as well as HD footage from the nest, which is streamed live in the visitor centre and from www.swt.org.uk.
Tom Hall, the new People’s Postcode Lottery Peregrine Protection Officer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: “For the next three months, our peregrine nest will never be without a pair of vigilant eyes watching over it. Only last year, a wildlife criminal was caught attempting to smuggle peregrine eggs abroad from Birmingham airport proving that the threat of wildlife crime is real and our watch is just as important as ever.
“Thankfully the stolen eggs were saved, and Falls of Clyde eventually became the home of three of the chicks to hatch from them. Including the adoption of the three orphaned chicks, last year our resident breeding pair played a part in raised four young chicks. This year, we hope to see between two and four new chicks on their nest.
Lyndsay Mark, the Scottish Wildlife Trust Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre Manager, added: “The birds’ breeding cycle is fascinating to follow and we’ve even launched a new visitor attraction this year to encourage more visitors to come and see the peregrines.
“The Peregrine Experience’ combines the comfort of indoor bird watching with the atmosphere of a hide in the Scottish wilderness, thanks to live nest cam footage which streams to a big screen and an intimate indoor viewing area. We hope this enhanced our peregrine watching experience, ensuring that visitors will see peregrines with every visit.
“Our nest cam also streams live to www.swt.org.uk allowing wildlife enthusiasts across Scotland can follow all the action on the nest, from the laying and hatching of the eggs to the chicks’ first flight. And we’ve also launched a new blog this year at http://blogs.swt.org.uk/fallsofclyde to provide even more information about peregrines and the Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve.”
Clara Govier, Head of Charities at the People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “This year’s peregrine protection watch at Falls of Clyde is made possible thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery who play our lottery for the chance to win cash prizes with their postcode while supporting local charities. We are thrilled the money we raise can go to such an important and worthwhile cause.”
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is appealing to volunteers to help stake-out the peregrines nesting ground at Falls of Clyde. For more information, contact 01555 665262
Only about 1,400 pairs of peregrine falcons remain in the UK, after their numbers fell rapidly in the 1950s due to the effects of DDT, a pesticide which decreased reproductive success through thinning of eggshells. This number accounts for 20% of the EU breeding population and approximately two-thirds of them nest in Scotland.
Famed as the fastest living creature on earth, peregrines can dive at speeds of up to approximately 150 mph to catch their prey of small and medium-sized birds.
**ENDS***
IMAGE CAPTIONS
Peregrines at the Falls of Clyde (c) Dean Bricknell
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nicola McGovern, Scottish Wildlife Trust’s PR and Communications Manager
0131 312 4742; 07795608264
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Lyndsay Mark, Visitor Centre Manager, and Tom Hall, Peregrine Protection Officer, are available for comment on 01555 665262.
2. The Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre is open between 11 am and 5 pm throughout the year, excepting January and February when opening hours are reduced to 12 noon to 4 pm. The peregrine viewing area is manned between 10 am and 8 pm (or dusk) each day from 26 March 2011. A suggested donation to the reserve is £1 per adult, 50p per concession, and free for SWT members.
3. Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre is one mile south of Lanark, off the A73. Follow signs for New Lanark Heritage Site. SWT visitor centre is in the Old Mill Dyeworks in New Lanark, past the Robert Owen School.
4. Operation Peregrine is managed in conjunction with The Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime initiative (PAW). This partnership is run by Scottish Natural Heritage and has the support of the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Police forces and wildlife organisations such as the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
5. The Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve welcomes over 60,000 visitors each year [with 25,000 visitors to the visitor centre.
6. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 35,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. The Scottish Wildlife Trust seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 reserves Scotland-wide.
7. The Scottish Wildlife Trust receives financial assistance and support from a number of organisations including Scottish Natural Heritage and the People’s Postcode Lottery.