Eemsmond

Little falcon is back for the night.

Bologna

At the beginning of season 2005, two web-cam devices were put in order to monitor nest activities within a niche at thirteen floor of skyscraper number 38 (Bologna Fair District), used by peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) as a breeding site. Remembering the lonely case in Milan (1994), the regular exploitation of one of Bologna Kenzo’s Towers from the year 2000 by nesting peregrine represents the first example of non-sporadic breeding in urban habitat assessed in Italy so far, even if notices of presence of this falcon during breeding season in so many towns over the last few years make nesting possible elsewhere even if not yet checked. Contrary to what happens in Centre Europe and North America, the settlement in urban habitat of our country depicts a natural fact not linked to releasing of captivity-breeding falcons to re-introduction. Web-cam devices has bought by “Servizio Apicale Tutela e Sviluppo Fauna” of Bologna Province and their installation was possible by means of Regione Emilia-RomagnaAdministration, which we publicly thank. The surveillance of nest-site during the most critical period will be carried out by staff of Bologna Province Police Force.

Derby

The successful 2007 breeding season saw two peregrine chicks fledging in late June. The tower of Derby Cathedral is still used by the parent birds almost every day. This has continued right through the winter until the start of breeding season, around Feb/March 2008. Each day they often return to their nest ledge, just after dawn - so a visit between 7am-9am local time may reveal one of the parents. Notice that the nest scrape on the left hand side is already being well-maintained in readiness for next season.

Preening

Time for preening. It's a livesaving thing, preening. Keeping the feathers firm and in the right shape means isolation. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer and waterproof. Furthermore, when flying, preened feathers will induce less drag. The falcon preens it's feathers with the oil from the preening gland, which is situated just above it's tailfeathers.