The headline message from the 2024 season is that our project hasn't had an impact on our local Peregrine's breeding success... just yet! But the signs are looking very good for 2025.

At Dalton Mills, where the resident pair usually do well, the Peregrines had another successful year. Fortunately the latest fire to hit the main mill building did not have an impact and 4 juveniles fledged. One of the juvs became grounded on the 16th June, or should I say, car perched! Local resident, Lee, was quick to step in and got the bird safely up on to the roof of the nearby Bus Museum. Brilliant work! With the building sadly still in limbo following the bankruptcy of the owner, there's not much more we can do here for the time being.

At City Hall, the resident pair appeared not to have bred again. They desperately need a nestbox and this is very much still a work in progress for us. There was some excitement on 23rd March when I saw a Tiercel ringed as T4H (born Wakefield Cathedral in 2021) tearing around the skies with the resident female. He brought in prey for her, and was seen mating with her. Subsequently he seems to have been chased off by the unringed resident male!

Salts Mill and Damart chimney have both been quiet this year, with only occasional sightings. Local watcher Matthew did spot a Peregrine on the Damart chimney nestbox in February, but it has been pretty quiet since.

In April we watched the Lister Mill Peregrines prospecting for a possible nesting location but as usual, none of the stone ledges were deemed suitable and they failed to breed this year. Our nestbox was installed just before the breeding season and we suspected it would be too late for this year. The birds took some time to get used to it's

presence, but I'm very excited to report that they appear to have well and truly "moved in". Two local Peregrine fans made the first sightings of our Peregrines actually perched on the

box. Both Lee and Jimmy sent us separate reports of this event on the 24th May. It's great to have so many people keeping a close eye on the Falcons! Since then the Peregrines have been seen on or in the nestbox every day. It's too late for them to breed this year but this bodes very well for the 2025 breeding season. Completing the cabling work for the Lister Mill cameras continues to be a logistical, legal and advocacy challenge but we are making great progress and hope to have this completed soon.

So it's certainly been mixed fortunes for our Bradford Peregrines this year. Our project work has been more challenging than we anticipated but maybe this is all just laying the foundations for what we hope will be a massive year for our Bradford Peregrines during the 2025 City of Culture! The support we've received from local residents across the district has been tremendous and we've loved sharing the Peregrines with you. Roll on 2025!