THE PEREGRINE FALCON IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF THE YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK

摘要

Historically, the Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus peregrinus, as a regular breeding species in the Yorkshire Dales was confined to the Dentdale and Howgill Fells area, with sporadic attempts in the Swaledale fells (Nelson, 1907; Ratcliffe, 1980; Mather 1986). In the late 1970s, the species began to expand away from this area into the Craven Dales, one site being occupied in 1977, with first breeding taking place there and at two other sites in 1978 (C.G.Varty, pers.comm..). This paper details theresults of over 3300 hours of behavioural observations carried out from 1985 to 1998, and reports on the breeding performance and productivity of the population within the study area from 1981 to 1998.