Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which helps monitor the peregrine nest on Nottingham Trent University’s Newton Building, has today issued its reflections on what has turned out to be a dramatic, traumatic yet ultimately successful breeding season.

The first reports of breeding activity for the species in the county came in a little more than two decades ago when a pair was noted on buildings in the Peel street area of the City. The pair soon moved to the Newton Building where they attempted to breed and a pair have been present ever since. Over the last twenty or so years the individual birds making up the pairing will have changed a number of times, with the latest new resident, a female carrying ring number P9 replaced the long-term resident female affectionately known as ‘Mrs P’ this year.

The discovery of a dead female in the City Centre and the arrival of the new bird after Mrs P had laid two eggs added to the drama and the Trust, Nottingham Trent University and the thousands of regular camera viewers waited with trepidation to see what would play out. After a brief period getting to know each other and establishing a bond, the new paring mated and P9 laid two eggs of her own – and it was one of these eggs that went on to hatch. Whilst only one egg has hatched this year the successful fledging of a chick by a new pair should be very much be seen as a success explained Erin McDaid – the Trust’s Head of Communications.

“Any year that we get a chick reaching the fledging stage when they take their first flight and start exploring has to be considered a success. When you factor in that this is the first breeding season for a very young female its even more pleasing to have a healthy chick about to take flight in search of a territory of his own.”

A chick hatched in 2008 was sighted 35km in Leicestershire last year – almost 12 years to the day since being ringed. A bird ringed in 2012 was found dead less than a year later – again in Leicestershire and 33km away. A bird ringed in 2013 was found dead this spring in South Yorkshire 81km away; whilst a 2015 chick was found dead in 2018 just 25km away in Derbyshire.

Speaking about the importance of these records Erin said: “Whist we only have ring records for a small proportion of the birds that have fledged from the Newton Building there are definite patterns emerging. Its fascinating to learn that all the birds were recorded not too far away – especially when we now have two birds from London occupying the nest. Perhaps this suggests that local towns and cities are the ideal places to take up residence as more traditional rural locations become more precarious due to persecution and egg thefts.”

Most years the chicks in the nest are fitted with a standard British Trust for Ornithology ‘G’ size metal ring, made of a special nickel-chromium alloy, which is light but hard-wearing to ensure it lasts the lifetime of the bird. Each ring has a unique number and the address of the British Museum in London, this institution is recognised throughout the world the name of the museum alone encourages people to report records. Erin added: “As the 2021 breeding season draws to a close its good to know that there’s a very good chance our latest chick will stay local. It’s also reassuring to know that so many people have taken an interest because the more people who care about nature the better chance we have of securing its recovery.”