Falcon chicks take to the skies

The Scottish Wildlife Trust's Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve is home to four peregrine falcon chicks. Three of them have now successfully flown for the first time.

Trust staff and volunteers have declared this to signify another success for their Operation Peregrine protection programme, which keeps the endangered birds under constant surveillance.

Famed as the fastest creature on earth, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour when diving to catch their prey. The fledged chicks at Falls of Clyde are currently honing their aerial skills taking test flights across the gorge on the reserve.

They will then follow their parents further into the countryside to learn how to hunt.

Willie Buttery, Scottish Wildlife Trust's Visitor Centre Manager, said: "We had been expecting the chicks to fledge their nest imminently and the weekend turned out to be triply delightful as one chick followed the other from the nest.

"With the flights occurring during the early hours of the morning on Saturday and Sunday, it was fantastic to come to work on both days and find our chicks flying across the gorge. I've been doing this job for three years and there's still nothing that can beat that feeling.

"We expect our fourth chick to follow suit and take to the skies in the next few days.

"And once they're all airborne, our chicks will spend the next few weeks getting the hang of flying.

"This is a great time to visit the Centre as you can watch them flying leisurely across the gorge and then returning to the nest site to be fed by mum."

Becky Priestly, Scottish Wildlife Trust's dedicated Peregrine Protection Officer appointed thanks to funding from People's Postcode Lottery, said: "This is the 13th year Falls of Clyde has succeeded in providing our resident peregrine pair with a safe and successful breeding environment.

"This amazing track-record is upheld thanks to our on-going vigilance to protect against wildlife crime which sees us watch our birds 24 hours every day right through the breeding season.

"After personally spending so long watching over these chicks, it is truly remarkable to see them fly on their own and begin to gain their independence.

"By visiting the Centre, you can still see close-up footage of the journey our peregrine chicks have almost completed, from egg-laying and hatching to their fledging.

"The views of the gorge nest at Falls of Clyde are unrivalled as some of the best in the whole of the UK."