1995: A female Peregrine took up permanent residence on the abandoned
West Pier in Brighton. It was known that she had been roosting on cliffs elsewhere
and visiting this site for at least two years.
1996: In the spring, now with a male, she laid eggs but failed to produce
young on the West Pier site.
1997: After failing again, the pair moved to a nearby block of flats -
"Sussex Heights" just inland from the seafront. Shortly after this
however, the female disappeared and was replaced by an immature falcon which
was immediately accepted by the male.
1998: In march of this year, Graham Roberts of Sussex Ornithological
Society, with the support of English Nature, the RSPB and Brighton Borough
Council, placed a nest box on "Sussex Heights" in an attempt to
encourage the Peregrines to stay on the block of flats, rather than return
to the derelict West Pier where restoration work was scheduled to begin.
The nest box was immediately occupied by the resident pair and although only
two years old, the falcon laid three eggs, two of which were fertile, hatching
and rearing two chicks to fledging
1999: Three young were produced
2000: Three young were produced
2001: Two young were produced
2002: The pair moved to the West Pier and successfully fledged three young
With major engineering work on the West Pier due to begin in 2003, it is hoped the Brighton Peregrines will once again breed on "Sussex Heights".
2003: Pair in nest box on Sussex heights during February and March, West pier burns down on 28th March.
Three young successfully raised in nest box on Sussex heights, Web cam not
in use this year, but follow the link to see a picture of the young.
The successful placement of this artificial eyrie has allowed many people to follow the fortunes of the Brighton Peregrines, making a positive contribution to education and conservation as well as providing valuable data for ongoing research.
