Academics to offer a bird’s eye view of breeding falcons

YORKSHIRE’S first urban breeding pair of peregrine falcons can now be seen on a live webcam after academics who have watched the birds’ success decided to share it with the world.

The pair took up residence on Sheffield University-owned St George’s Church in Broad Lane in 2010 and successfully reared two chicks last year, despite harsh weather conditions.

The birds were encouraged to nest after a platform was put on the church and have since been monitored and protected by university staff and volunteers.

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Phil Riley, of the university’s department of estates and facilities management, worked to get planning permission to install a webcam near the nest.

He said: “The webcam will not only act as a security camera to ensure the nest is not tampered with, but will also allow the university to make high quality images of these beautiful wild birds available to the public.”

Peregrine falcons have previously been an endangered species, but university experts said their population has steadily increased since the 1970s because of better legal protection and control of pesticides.

The birds are usually found around the coast but have recently been seen in more built-up areas.

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