Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland ‘rung’ to track their movements

2020 has, so far, been a very successful breeding year for birds of prey in the Forest of Bowland.
Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland have been fitted with two rings to help track their future movements.Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland have been fitted with two rings to help track their future movements.
Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland have been fitted with two rings to help track their future movements.

There have been sightings of barn owl, tawny owl, short eared owl, kestrel and merlin chicks – amongst others – on the moors.

One of the area’s private estates, which is managed for both grouse and partridge shooting, has had a successful nest of peregrine falcons.

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Two Forest of Bowland gamekeepers have been lucky enough to visit, and help ring this really successful nest (eyrie) of four peregrine falcon chicks.

Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland have been fitted with two rings to help track their future movements.Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland have been fitted with two rings to help track their future movements.
Peregrine falcon chicks in the Forest of Bowland have been fitted with two rings to help track their future movements.

The estate contacted a ringing expert, licensed with the British Trust for Ornithology, to have the chicks rung to help track their future movements.

The chicks have been fitted with two rings.

One ring is the bird’s information BTO ring, and the other a very visible ring that can be seen at a distance with binoculars, and which helps to track sightings.

The chicks were rung at the ideal age and have now fledged the nest site and will be being trained to hunt successfully by their parents.

Peregrine falcons in the Forest of Bowland have had chicks which have now fledged the nest site and will be being trained to hunt successfully by their parents.Peregrine falcons in the Forest of Bowland have had chicks which have now fledged the nest site and will be being trained to hunt successfully by their parents.
Peregrine falcons in the Forest of Bowland have had chicks which have now fledged the nest site and will be being trained to hunt successfully by their parents.
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This is one of many peregrine nests on managed moorland in the Forest of Bowland, and the peregrine is just one of many species of raptor that chooses to make its home on the moors.

Raptors do well in the Forest of Bowland and are encouraged as they help contribute to the healthy ecosystem of the moors – and it is mainly thanks to the hard work of the game keepers and estate workers that these birds thrive here.