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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Peregrine falcons in Sheffield - now you can spy on them at home | Peregrine falcons in Sheffield - now you can spy on them at home |
| (4 months later) | |
| Sorry to be shamelessly county-ist about this, but let's hear it for Yorkshire's first urban breeding pair of peregrine falcons. | Sorry to be shamelessly county-ist about this, but let's hear it for Yorkshire's first urban breeding pair of peregrine falcons. |
| Yes, I know that Manchester has beaten us to it, but only because we have been preparing a particularly special type of the bird, superior to all others. | Yes, I know that Manchester has beaten us to it, but only because we have been preparing a particularly special type of the bird, superior to all others. |
| Think along the lines of The Fryer magazine, thunderously asserting our superiority during the Great Dripping vs Oil Controversy of 1917, when Lancashire chip shop owners tried to have Yorkshire's dripping allocation rationed (on the spurious grounds that it was needed to grease shells). | Think along the lines of The Fryer magazine, thunderously asserting our superiority during the Great Dripping vs Oil Controversy of 1917, when Lancashire chip shop owners tried to have Yorkshire's dripping allocation rationed (on the spurious grounds that it was needed to grease shells). |
| Animal fat is the food of a dominant people. The cry for vegetable oil throughout the country was for the feeding of an inferior people. Animal fat for the dominant race. Animal fat for the dominant county within that race. | Animal fat is the food of a dominant people. The cry for vegetable oil throughout the country was for the feeding of an inferior people. Animal fat for the dominant race. Animal fat for the dominant county within that race. |
You might be ticked off for that now. | You might be ticked off for that now. |
| But back to our peregrine falcons, which are in Sheffield. The pioneering birds nested on top of St George's church last year and defied miserable weather to raise two chicks. Now their domestic life in the coming breeding season is available for the first time via a carefully-installed webcam - follow it here. | But back to our peregrine falcons, which are in Sheffield. The pioneering birds nested on top of St George's church last year and defied miserable weather to raise two chicks. Now their domestic life in the coming breeding season is available for the first time via a carefully-installed webcam - follow it here. |
| In the manner of the immortal Bill Odddie, albeit without his comments, this will watch proceedings via Sheffield University's website. The energy manager in the uni's estates department, Phil Riley, found a site and got permission to fix things up. He says: | In the manner of the immortal Bill Odddie, albeit without his comments, this will watch proceedings via Sheffield University's website. The energy manager in the uni's estates department, Phil Riley, found a site and got permission to fix things up. He says: |
| The webcam will not only act as a security camera to ensure the nest is not tampered with, but will also allow the University to make high quality images of these beautiful wild birds available to the public. | The webcam will not only act as a security camera to ensure the nest is not tampered with, but will also allow the University to make high quality images of these beautiful wild birds available to the public. |
The move builds on monitoring shifts by volunteers who have watched over the adult peregrines since they first moved in – partly enticed by a nesting box built by Riley and his colleagues. Sheffield takes a particular and justified pride in welcoming new arrivals and indeed became the UK first 'city of sanctuary' for asylum seekers and refugees in 2007. | The move builds on monitoring shifts by volunteers who have watched over the adult peregrines since they first moved in – partly enticed by a nesting box built by Riley and his colleagues. Sheffield takes a particular and justified pride in welcoming new arrivals and indeed became the UK first 'city of sanctuary' for asylum seekers and refugees in 2007. |
| Peregrine falcons have suffered some of the disparagement encountered by the latter, but better legal protection and control of pesticides have helped their numbers to increase. Urban birds have proved both successful in their own terms and as tourist attractions in many other cities, including central London. | Peregrine falcons have suffered some of the disparagement encountered by the latter, but better legal protection and control of pesticides have helped their numbers to increase. Urban birds have proved both successful in their own terms and as tourist attractions in many other cities, including central London. |
| Prof David Wood of Sheffield University's department of Hispanic Studies is chair of the Sheffield Bird Study Group and he says: | Prof David Wood of Sheffield University's department of Hispanic Studies is chair of the Sheffield Bird Study Group and he says: |
| Peregrines are one of the most spectacular species in Britain, traditionally associated with remote sea cliffs and inaccessible sites, and to be able to see them in urban Sheffield is an absolute privilege. I know they have brought a great deal of pleasure to local residents around St George's and beyond, as well as to me personally. We are delighted that the webcam is now up and running, enabling everyone to observe these beautiful birds. Congratulations to everyone involved and here's hoping for another successful breeding season. | Peregrines are one of the most spectacular species in Britain, traditionally associated with remote sea cliffs and inaccessible sites, and to be able to see them in urban Sheffield is an absolute privilege. I know they have brought a great deal of pleasure to local residents around St George's and beyond, as well as to me personally. We are delighted that the webcam is now up and running, enabling everyone to observe these beautiful birds. Congratulations to everyone involved and here's hoping for another successful breeding season. |
| Needless to say, the Peregrines also Tweet - here - and the webcam comes with a handy blog - here. | Needless to say, the Peregrines also Tweet - here - and the webcam comes with a handy blog - here. |
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