Peregrine falcons get Hampshire police nesting box

A nesting box for a pair of peregrine falcons has been installed at the police headquarters in Hampshire.

A box about the size of a small dog kennel was fitted to the top of the building in Winchester by Hampshire Ornithological Society.

The birds have been trying to nest on the building for about three years.

The society hopes the new box will help encourage a successful brood from the birds, which can reach speeds of up to 200mph (321km/h).

Peregrine falcons have used a nesting box which was installed at Chichester Cathedral in 2001

Keith Betton, the county bird recorder for the society, said tall buildings like the police headquarters acted as "artificial cliffs" for the birds.

"They are used to nesting on the ledges of high cliffs and there aren't any in Hampshire so tall buildings serve the same purpose," he said.

"We decided to install the box here because there are no ledges or roofed areas which the falcons can nest under.

"The box will shelter them from wet weather and give them a better chance of breeding success."

The RSPB and Sussex Ornithological Society installed a similar box for peregrine falcons at Chichester Cathedral, West Sussex in 2001.