Malham CoveMalham Cove is one of the most popular visitor sites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is a popular location for rock climbers. Peregrine falcons have nested at Malham Cove since 1993 and over the years they have become tolerant of the large number of people that visit the site each year. To make sure that the nesting peregrines are not unintentionally disturbed by climbers, climbing restrictions are agreed with the British Mountaineering Council every year.
Juvenille peregrine falcon on itsfavourite perch at Malham Cove.
Image © Stan Parrott.
There are many historic peregrine nest sites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park but Malham Cove is now one of only seven or eight sites in the National Park where peregrines regularly attempt to breed. In 1994, only their second year at the site, the pair managed to fledge five young. This was the first time that this had been documented in Yorkshire and only the third time on record in the UK since 1896. In 1997 there were two failed clutches of eggs, but in 1998, what was presumed to be the same pair of peregrines incredibly managed to fledge a further five young!
Although the site was not monitored for several years, peregrines have continued to occupy Malham Cove and, with the exception of 2005 when the adult female disappeared at the start of the nesting season, the birds have nested successfully ever since. They have successfully nested at Malham Cove on 12 occasions and have fledged a total of 37 young.
Looking at the peregrinefalcons at the
Malham Cove viewpoint.
The viewpoint at Malham Cove has been operated by the RSPB and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority since 2003. Staff members and dedicated volunteers have all been busy each year showing visitors to Malham Cove the peregrines and other wildlife that can be seen. Since it began, over 125,000 people have stopped at the viewpoint to watch and find out more about this spectacular bird of prey.
More details on peregrine falcons in the Yorkshire Dales National Park can be found in the Nature in the Dales section of our website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/peregrinefalcon.
