Falcon chicks keep visitors guessing

A pair of the birds are nesting out of sight of prying eyes and have produced young but it is not know how many or when the chicks hatched.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s (YDNPA) wildlife conservation officer, Ian Court, said: “The female has started taking food into the nesting ledge – something that doesn’t happen when she is incubating – so it’s a clear indication that the chicks have hatched. Unfortunately the birds are nesting out of sight so we do not know how many young there are.”

He said when the chicks become large enough they will start to venture away from the nest and allow the RSPB and others to see them.

Peregrines started nesting at the cove 18 years ago.

This year the RSPB and YDNPA have again teamed up to run a free peregrine watch viewpoint at the cove until July 31 that enables people to watch the birds through high-powered telescopes.

The watch site, which last year attracted 16,500 visitors, is manned by YDNPA and RSPB staff and volunteers between 10.30am and 4.30pm from Wednesdays to Sundays inclusive, weather permitting.

More information about the Malham peregrines can be found by visiting www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/peregrines