Urban Peregrines

by Ed Drewitt

Overview

The Peregrine, the fastest bird in the world, has made a remarkable recovery over the past 30 years. As the species re-establishes itself around the world it is becoming a familiar sight in towns and cities.

This beautifully illustrated book is the first in-depth focus on the lives of Peregrines in towns and cities. In words and stunning photographs, Ed Drewitt reveals the latest information on Peregrine behavior including how they are adapting to, and taking advantage of, the urban environment.

The book is also a how-to-guide, with information on finding peregrines, studying their diet, ringing individuals for research, putting up nest boxes and enabling people to learn more about them through public viewing points or web cameras.

Ed also discusses what makes a Peregrine urban, their contemporary relationship with people, and helps dispel some myths and reveal some truths about this agile predator.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781907807817
Publisher:	Pelagic Publishing
Publication date:	06/16/2014
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Ed Drewitt is a professional naturalist, wildlife detective, and broadcaster for the BBC. He has been studying urban Peregrines for over 15 years, and specialises in colour ringing their chicks, and identifying what they have been eating.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

The Peregrine

I wait in anticipation – I can see the parents sitting up on a pylon looking down at me in a yellow buttercup field full of inquisitive young bulls. We are by a cliff overlooking a railway and on the edge of suburbia. Meanwhile, climbers under my supervision and Schedule 1 Licence bring up a special package from the cliffs below. As I put my hand into the large cotton bag I smell a unique, musky scent which brings back memories of my contact with these birds last year. I was expecting three but instead we have four soft, large and very warm, fluffy Peregrine chicks. I like surprises, and sometimes you have one chick more than you expect. I quickly put a metal identification ring on one leg and a light blue colour ring on the other leg of each of the chicks. I then measure various parts of their head and legs, take their weights, and get them back to the climbers to settle them back in their nest, now with some colourful bling to show their parents. The colour rings will help us discover more about each bird during its life away from the nest. We leave promptly, and celebrate another successful and privileged opportunity to see Peregrines so closely and intimately.

The Peregrine, or Falco peregrinus as it is known in Latin, is a bird of stealth, a falcon of speed, and a hunter designed to kill (Fig. 1.1). For 6,000 years or more since falconry first became part of human culture the Peregrine has been a popular bird with people. However, it has also had its fair share of bad press, persecution and misunderstandings. Despite this, the Peregrine remains a popular bird with the public. Websites showing Peregrines live at nest sites from various locations around the world are increasing, while only the odd hummingbird, Osprey Pandion haliaetus or Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis may be lucky enough to be broadcast around the globe in such a fashion. And most spectacularly of all, the Peregrine has come back from the brink of extinction – not just in the UK, but also across Europe, North America and other parts of the world – after the devastating effects of chemicals used in farming and the countryside in the middle of the twentieth century. The Peregrine has returned with a vengeance in many areas, not only exploiting the countryside from which it disappeared, but also venturing into our towns and cities to become a truly urban species.

Recovering from around 385 pairs in the UK in the 1960s, the Peregrine had increased to 1,437 pairs and 1,530 occupied sites in the last survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in 2002. However, the overall population will be much greater that this 12 years on, despite declines in some parts of Britain. More recently Nick Dixon, who keeps track of urban Peregrine territories in the UK, has recorded at least 100 pairs living on made-made structures and at least 50 pairs in city centres (though not all may be breeding). Additionally, some Peregrines may go undetected depending on the surveys and type of data collection techniques used. Monitoring work by the Welsh Raptor Group has recorded more Peregrines compared to the BTO in the same areas in south and central Wales due to differences in criteria of data collected.

Monitoring of Peregrines in the UK has been ongoing for decades. Recent distribution maps (Fig. 1.2) from the Bird Atlas 2007–11, a joint project between BTO, BirdWatch Ireland and the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, show the whereabouts of Peregrines during the summer and winter between these years, and how their presence across the countries has changed over the past 40 years.

While Peregrines are doing relatively well in the UK, populations are very much still recovering in nearby countries such as Finland and Poland. In many European countries, captive-bred Peregrines have been released into the wild to increase and maintain the wild populations. In the Czech Republic in the mid-1990s there was only a single breeding pair in the whole country – now there are around 30 pairs thanks to increasing immigration from other parts of Europe. Even in Sweden, where much research has been conducted on Peregrines, there were still only 59 pairs in 2007. In Finland in 2012 there were up to 292 pairs, a vast improvement from just 30 in the 1970s, but still relatively low compared to the UK (over 1,400 pairs) and Germany (over 940 pairs).

Peregrines are found throughout the world, and aside from Antarctica and the Sahara Desert, they are able to live in most countries, islands and continents. Peregrines are also found in towns and cities all around the world, and many of their behaviours discussed in this book are reflected in individuals living in cities poles apart, from Australia to Argentina, Canada to Colombia and Iraq to India.

The Peregrine

The Peregrine is a type of falcon, and shares its genus, Falco, with the Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus, Merlin Falco columbarius, Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus, Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae and Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus, to name just a few. Falcons are all birds of prey or raptors, terms which are also used for eagles, hawks, secretary birds and owls. Falcons are thought to have evolved 20 million years ago, with Peregrines branching off into their own species around 2 million years ago.

The genome sequence of a Peregrine, the DNA coding which makes it what it is as a species, has recently been deciphered. This information tells us how its 16,200 genes and billions of cells actually work, and how they differ to those of similar species such as the Saker Falcon Falco cherrug. Scientists now know that Peregrines evolved very quickly in response to intense competition for food with other birds. It wasn't long before the hooked bill, strong skull, and the ability to breathe and pump blood around the body efficiently while flying at breakneck speeds made this species what it is today. Since then the Peregrine has spread to all continents around the world apart from Antarctica, although along the way its global population has reduced in size a few times and undergone population bottlenecks around 100,000 years ago and again 20,000 years ago. This is important to know because such occurrences can cause a reduced gene pool, meaning the species is less able to adapt to changes in its environment and therefore survive. Although the Peregrine didn't disappear, bottlenecks can have deleterious effects on populations. In Sweden, captive-bred Peregrines have recently been released into south-west and central parts of the country to encourage gene flow and the mixing of breeding populations in the north and south which have been separated as a result of population declines and bottlenecks. This has been due to both persistent persecution and the effects of lethal pesticides used in the countryside, as a result of which the southern population had become inbred. Similarly, studies in Germany have revealed the current Peregrine population also lacks genetic variability. However, as the population increases, and other birds from further afield move in and begin breeding with the resident birds, the gene pool will gradually become more diverse.

Peregrines are absent from the very high Arctic and the Sahel region, where conditions and food availability make it difficult for them to survive. In the high, sub-Arctic regions where they do breed, they are only present seasonally. The species' full scientific name, Falco peregrinus, means 'wandering falcon', and refers to the Peregrine's nature of moving thousands of miles from northern America, Europe and Siberia in the autumn, to warmer winter haunts in Central and South America, western Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. The Peregrine's nature of moving long distances is reflected in its other names from languages around the world, including the Wanderfalke in German, faucon pèlerin in French, halcón peregrino in Spanish, and falco pellegrino in Italian. The Peregrine's specialist ability to hunt at fast speeds and pursue prey over open areas makes it very successful where there is an abundance of prey. However, being so specialised means it is less efficient at using other modes of hunting or tackling different types of prey (other than that which flies). Therefore, in areas where there is a poorer supply of food, Peregrines tend to be absent or restricted in numbers.

The Falco part of the Peregrine's scientific name means 'hook-shaped' and refers to the strong, curved bill, which ends in a sharp point. There is an extra notch on either side of the upper bill known as the tomial tooth, which helps Peregrines kill their prey by crushing the backbone and severing the spinal cord (Fig. 1.3). The tomial tooth also helps the Peregrine to tear open the bodies of prey and bite through the skulls and breastbones of birds. Compared with hawks such as Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus and Goshawks, which feed on similar prey, Peregrines have a much stronger biting force and tend to kill with their bill. Contrastingly, the Sparrowhawk is able to grip hold of and squeeze prey to death with its talons, while its bill is used more for tearing up a bird to eat. When a Sparrowhawk is standing over a squawking Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris or flapping Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto in a garden, it may take a while for the prey to die as the hawk relies on the squeezing actions of its talons to gradually suffocate it. While Peregrines have the ability to grip in the same way, they generally use their talons for catching and retrieving prey, although sometimes the impact from a stoop dive may kill prey outright, or at least stun it. In the UK, the Peregrine is often confused with the Sparrowhawk in gardens (Fig. 1.4). Female Sparrowhawks are big birds, and it is understandable that they are sometimes mistaken for the Peregrine. However, Peregrines rarely visit gardens – they lack the broad wings and long tail needed to dash through small spaces and twist and turn within milliseconds.

Peregrines are specialist bird eaters, and while it may sound a cliché, they are ultimate killers. Peregrines feed almost exclusively on birds, and in parts of the world where winter conditions mean prey species depart from their breeding grounds completely, Peregrines have to follow suit to survive. Their specialism as an attacking predator on birds gives them a much stronger bite and larger muscles than other falcons that are generalists and feed on a greater variety of foods including small birds, reptiles, insects and mammals. One such example is the Brown Falcon Falco berigora found in Australia – this has a weaker bite compared to the Peregrine, and is more delicate and refined when it comes to feeding on a variety of small animals. The Peregrine's stronger bite is ideal for dealing with large birds and plucking feathers, but less good for smaller, more dexterous bill movements.

Like many birds, the Peregrine shows differences in its morphology around the world, and it is generally agreed that there are 19 different subspecies which vary in size and colour (although debates do continue as to how some are classified). Generally, Peregrines in the north are larger, and some may have very white breasts marked with horizontal streaks, while others have breast feathers which are peach or rusty-coloured. The smaller, tropical races are stockier, short-tailed, short-winged, and large-footed while the larger northern races tend to be relatively longer-winged and longer-tailed, adaptations to help with moving larger distances over open country. Studies by Andrew Jenkins on southern African Peregrines show that when comparing the flapping flight of tropical and northern races of Peregrines, the tropical races would find flying 20 per cent more strenuous. As a result these smaller birds tend to stay put and generally don't travel or disperse very far from where they live. In the UK, the nominate race of the Peregrine Falco peregrinus peregrinus is most common, although sometimes individuals of the North American race make it to Scotland or Ireland as they move south through Greenland, Iceland and the UK instead of North America. Those individuals coming to the UK and western parts of Europe from further north in Europe will also be of the F. p. peregrinus race.

Why is the Peregrine found worldwide, while other similar species are not?

The Peregrine will live almost anywhere in the world, aside from those habitats which are just a little too extreme for it, such as the polar regions, deserts, and the islands of New Zealand and Iceland. The larger Gyr Falcon replaces the Peregrine in the Arctic regions of the world, while in the deserts you will find the Lanner Falco biarmicus and Saker Falcons, species better suited to the hot, dry conditions and lack of water – for example, the Saker's kidneys are more efficient and better able to conserve water than those of the Peregrine. Elsewhere, as long as there is food, mainly other birds, the Peregrine can survive in habitats ranging from mangroves to rocky coastlines, and cities to jungle forests.

The Peregrine is a very adaptable bird of prey, and will eat any type of bird that it is able to catch safely or bring to the ground and kill. Large gulls are the exception, and although they may be hit or attacked during the breeding season in territorial disputes they are rarely tackled in a full body grasp and killed. Falconry birds used at rubbish tips to control the presence of gulls are usually Peregrines which have been cross-bred with Sakers to produce a bigger bird with more speed and a more effective presence. These hybrids are able to bring the larger gulls to the ground and kill them.

Another key to the Peregrine's success relates to its ability to nest in a variety of habitats, including cliffs, trees, raised ground, buildings, and other man-made structures, from pylons to lighthouses. Additionally, it is able to travel long distances to follow its food when the seasons change. The Peregrine's ability to catch almost anything which flies, and its range of different migration routes between breeding and wintering habitats, means it is able to survive across more parts of the world than most other birds of prey. It shares similar global success with the fish-eating Osprey. Meanwhile, most other raptor species which breed in parts of Eurasia or North America may only winter in specific parts of Africa, South America or other parts of the world, and are more vulnerable to changes in habitats along their migration routes or in their wintering grounds. They may also be more specific in the range and type of prey they eat. Examples include many of the smaller falcons such as Eleonora's Falcon and the Hobby.

What makes the Peregrine so successful in urban places?

The Peregrine has evolved adaptations that allow it to be resilient, robust and successful in a variety of habitats, including towns, cities and industrial locations. Tall buildings such as concrete office blocks, ornate limestone and sandstone cathedrals and churches, bridges, pylons, industrial buildings and telecommunication towers provide the ideal locations for a Peregrine to roost, breed and feed (Fig. 1.5). Just like natural rocky crags, sea cliffs or man-made quarries, these buildings provide a safe refuge at height, where the birds can see all around and make a quick exit to chase prey or see off an intruder. A gargoyle-clad church may look aesthetic and be an important place for worship, but to a Peregrine it is a rocky cliff overlooking parks, water bodies, and other buildings (Fig. 1.6). This is the Peregrine's world, where tens of metres high a quieter environment prevails, away from the noise and bustling activities of people below. And the resonating sound of nearby church bells is of little distraction – the falcons just get used to it.

The urban landscape provides a mosaic of habitats, from rivers to parks and woodland to rooftops. In turn, this variety of places provides a rich abundance of food for the Peregrines in the form of birds, and the occasional bat, rat or other animal. There is also easy access to the wider countryside, and an open flyway along which other birds are travelling, transecting across towns and cities on their journeys.

Facial features and skull

Like other falcons, the Peregrine has a short neck, long, pointed wings, a hooked bill and sharp talons (Fig. 1.7). A closer look reveals some of the features that make it so successful.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Urban Peregrines"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Ed Drewitt.
Excerpted by permission of Pelagic Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

About the author, vii,
Foreword, ix,
Preface, xi,
1 The Peregrine, 1,
2 What is an Urban Peregrine?, 33,
3 How to Spot a Peregrine, 41,
4 A Year in the Life of an Urban Peregrine, 48,
5 Food and Feeding, 75,
6 How to Study Peregrines, 104,
7 Ringing Urban Peregrines, 125,
8 Myths about Peregrines, 140,
9 Changing Threats and the Future of the Urban Peregrine, 145,
10 People and Peregrines, 162,
11 Where Next?, 187,
Further reading, 193,
Acknowledgements, 195,
Photographers, 196,
Index, 203,

Editorial Reviews

Ed Drewitt's name may be familiar to many people from his writing for BBC Wildlife Magazine, or his pieces on Springwatch. He is also very popular in the Bristol area for the many walks and talks he carries out to help introduce the public to the wonders of natural history in the Bristol area and beyond. Anyone who has been on one of his guided walks or nature holidays will vouch for his knack of engaging his audience and the pleasure he gets in sharing his wealth of knowledge.

He now brings these talents to bear in this book on a subject very close to his heart and on a subject he has been studying for over 15 years; the appearance in our urban centres of the Peregrine, a bird that until relatively recently was in serious trouble due to its position at the top of the food chain. The use of the pesticide DDT in the 1960s and 1970s by farmers caused it to enter the food chain as birds ate sprayed crops, leading to the concentration over time of DDT in the bodies of those predators that ate these birds. The most famous side effect of this was the production of eggs with shells that were too thin to survive incubation, but many of the birds died directly from the high levels of the chemicals in their bodies.

Happily, following the phasing out of DDT in the late 1970s and early 1980s, this is no longer a threat in the UK as well as the rest of Europe and also the United States, and Peregrines in these regions have bounced back dramatically, giving rise to the phenomenon of the urban Peregrine and the topic of Drewitt's book. His studies of these urban birds has led to some startling discoveries. One of these is the way Peregrines in towns and cities have adapted to use our artificial lighting to hunt at night, as shown by the discovery of feathers from birds that migrate predominantly at night in studies of their kills. These have included Corncrakes, Teal, Woodcocks and Dunnocks. Here is proof that this is a species that is truly living cheek by jowl with us in our urban spaces.

As well as discussing new feeding strategies, Drewitt also charts a year in the life of an urban Peregrine, looks at their relationship with humans in more detail and tells us how we can go about getting sightings of these incredible raptors. Despite the the disappearance of the threat of DDT poisoning here, Drewitt also warns against complacency in the ongoing survival of the Peregrine. DDT still used in countries in north Africa is believed to enter the environment and could still be dangerous. A growing worry is the appearance of so-called Persistent Organic Pollutants in the environment; these are flame retardants used in the plastics and textile industries and have already been seen accumulating in the fatty tissues of apex predators like Killer Whales. This newer worry, along with other negative aspects of life in cities for Peregrines is looked at in detail.

This is a timely and fascinating book, full of Drewitt's charm and learning. Along side the text are some beautiful photographs from a range of talented wildlife photographers and these complement what is a brilliant and readable addition to the study of raptors in this country.

Verdant Wildlife - Dr Andrew Whitelee

A fascinating insight into the life of our top urban predator.

Stephen Moss

Urban Peregrines is published with near-perfect timing, arriving during the final stages of the 2014 UK Peregrine Survey. The recent fortunes of Peregrines in the UK have been varied, but the towns and cities focused on within this book provide the scene for a remarkable and ongoing success story. Ed Drewitt gives us a book written in interesting and conversational prose, with a wealth of observations on a wide range of Peregrine-related topics. There is particularly satisfying detail on the startlingly varied diet of Peregrines living in our cities and also, appropriately, on the ways in which wild Peregrines interact with and are affected by people. The book is copiously illustrated with photographs, not only of Peregrines, but of the birds they eat and the urban environments they live in. I recommend it for anyone wanting to better acquaint themselves with one of our most iconic and charismatic birds.

BTO News - Mark Wilson

Following the cessation of persecution and DDT poisoning, peregrine falcon populations have increased everywhere and they have colonised the cities of Europe, North America and Australia. This success in seemingly hostile urban environments requires specific adaptations. These adaptations are the focus of the author, an enthusiast who has spent years following peregrines in several English towns. All the details of their social, reproductive and hunting behaviour are described simply (Drewitt is not a scientist) but precisely and thoroughly, allowing the reader to understand why and how this remarkable falcon benefits from the often artificial urban environment. His descriptions are fascinating: the peregrine's extremely varied diet, nocturnal hunting for migratory birds, the storage of numerous surplus kills, the incessant comings and goings of different individuals and the movements of these supposedly sedentary birds, and the observed cases of trios, polygyny or incest, and other little known aspects of the life of peregrines. It is also, however, a detailed manual of how to observe and study the species, how to collect feathers when deploying tags and nesting sites, and how to manage threats that affect falcons through good relations with the general public. It is also an opportunity to take stock of the myths surrounding the relationship between peregrines, pigeons, gulls and corvids. The photos are numerous, if small, and generally very instructive, and reference is made to the situation in other countries, even if there are no precise references (even the bibliography at the end is succinct). The reading of the text is made easier by this, but it is not possible to deepen one's appreciation of the comparisons made by referring to them. All in all, a book that is easy to read, stuffed with practical information and original observations, essential reading for those who are interested in peregrines, even if it does deal almost exclusively with the English population.

ORNITHOS - Jean Marc Thiollay

Peregrines! The biggest urban conservation story to hit our cities is gloriously revealed in this wonderful book.

Mike Dilger