Birds of prey watch over the city
It is a remarkable partnership. York’s most important building is being watched over by the animal kingdom’s fastest creatures. No one knows precisely when the two peregrine falcons took up residence at York Minster. But since they were first spotted, they have become an attraction in their own right, and have even hatched their own Twitter feed.
Their favoured perches are on the north face of the cathedral, which you can view from Dean’s Park. They are often seen high up on the central tower or the northwest bell tower and balcony. Gargoyles and grotesques also make perfect landing spots after the pair has finished circling above the Minster.
Info
Address York Minster, Deangate, York YO1 7HH | Public Transport Closest bus stop: Exhibition Square | Tip If you’d like to get up close and personal with birds of prey, falconers regularly bring tame birds to both the garden of Holy Trinity on Goodramgate and York Museum Gardens.
Peregrine falcons are devastatingly good hunters. When they dive in for the kill they reach speeds of more than 200mph. If you don’t manage to spot the falcons themselves, you might find the remains of their unfortunate prey. The falcons have helped to keep the pigeon population down, although they often prefer to eat smaller birds. The feathers and skeletons of woodcocks, plovers, and gulls are regularly found around the Minster.
Barry Bishop, of the York branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), says that the falcons are naturally cliff-dwelling birds. “As far as they’re concerned, this is just a cliff,” he told BBC Radio York in 2015. “It happens to be in the centre of York with lots of food around and plenty of water, so it’s an ideal place for them to be.”
In spring 2015 excitement greeted news that the Minster’s falcon couple looked set to breed. The birds had been seen mating and had constructed a scrape, a shallow depression designed to prevent eggs from rolling away. Unfortunately, it was not to be. “Most young birds don’t breed successfully the first time,” Barry explained. “We’re hoping that next year they will have another attempt and raise some young.”
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