Town's peregrine falcon lays three eggs

A peregrine falcon on top of a building in a Surrey town centre has laid its first three eggs of the year.

A nest box was installed on the top of Export House in 2016 by The Woking Peregrine Project.

The same pair of peregrine falcons have been nesting in the box in Woking for three years and have become much loved by people who watch them on the nest's live camera.

Craig Denford, who runs the peregrine project, said: "It's good always a good point in the year. I never tire of seeing the eggs hatching."

"Normally they lay four or five, so there should be more. The fact they're laying is very good."

There have been various successes and tragedies for the chicks over the years.

In 2022, a female chick was tracked and found to be doing well at RSPB Dungeness in Kent, but the following year another female chick was discovered dead on the road in Woking.

Craig explained it was initially feared it would not be possible to run the live camera this year, but the project was saved thanks to a donation from the Surrey Bird Club.

The peregrine population in the UK hit a low point in the 1960s due to human persecution and the impact of pesticides in the food chain, according to the RSPB.

However, improved legislation and protection has helped the birds to recover and they have now expanded into many urban areas.

While peregrines historically live on cliffs , the building's height makes the spot an ideal nesting place.

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