Falcons deliver egg in time for Easter (Scotland)

[Donna]

‘We had about 2ft of snow and she laid it that morning – talk about timing’

Published: 02/04/2010


BIRDS of prey at a north-east visitor attraction have produced their first egg of the year – just in time for Easter.

The peregrine falcons have raised three chicks in the past.

Staff and visitors at Huntly Peregrine Wild Watch are hopeful the arrival of their first egg of 2010 signals the start of another successful season.

Warden Gibby Kirwan said: “I knew there was something up as soon as I got in on Wednesday morning and saw the falcon sitting tight.

“We'd had about 2ft of snow in the previous 18 hours and she laid an egg that morning – talk about timing.

“The male came and did a 20-minute slot to let her off to feed, but she was straight back on again.

“The ledge where the pair have their scrape is gradually filling with snow and the wind keeps covering her with snow but she just shakes it off and sits there protecting the egg.

“Let’s hope this egg makes it, and that there are more on the way.�

The centre, at the Bin Forest, off the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness road, provides a peephole on the life of the birds, which regularly nest in the quarry, with the help of cameras, displays and guidance from staff.

It is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm.