Peregrine Falcons at Norwich Cathedral

Peregrine Falcons were a familiar sight around Norwich Cathedral for several years before 2010. In response, the Hawk and Owl Trust was invited to assess whether the site would be suitable for a dedicated nesting platform. A nest box was installed at the base of the Cathedral spire in 2010 and, with the help of the local fire service, was relocated higher up the spire in 2011.

Today, the nest box sits 220 feet above the ground, facing south-west, and measures 1m by 0.7m — an ideal position that closely mirrors the cliff-edge habitats Peregrines naturally prefer.

Since 2011, a pair of Peregrine Falcons has nested here every year. Although the individual adult birds have changed over time, the site has remained consistently successful. As of 2024, 33 chicks have fledged from the Norwich Cathedral nest platform. While some birds have been identified through ringing — including one known as ‘GA’, who was born at the Trust’s Bath site before later nesting in Norwich — many of the Peregrines remain unringed, leaving parts of their story a mystery.

A Conservation Success Story

The Hawk and Owl Trust was founded in 1969 in response to the dramatic decline of Peregrine Falcons across the UK and worldwide from the 1940s onwards. This decline was largely caused by the widespread use of the pesticide DDT, which weakened eggshells and severely reduced breeding success.

Thanks to decades of conservation work, legal protection, and the banning of DDT, Peregrine numbers have recovered to the point where they now hold ‘green’ conservation status. Today, there are more than 1,750 breeding pairs in the UK.

Providing nest sites in urban locations like Norwich Cathedral plays an important role in this success. Tall buildings replicate the high, sheltered ledges of natural cliff faces, offering Peregrines safe and suitable places to breed in modern landscapes.

Other Peregrine Nest Sites

Alongside Norwich Cathedral, the Hawk and Owl Trust monitors several other Peregrine nest sites, including:

• Bath
• Ely
• Kettering
• Yeovil