Mills playing host to new group of tenants – falcons (From Keighley News)

Mills playing host to new group of tenants – falcons

11:00am Thursday 5th June 2008

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Pigeons beware! Peregrine falcons nesting in a mill chimney are eyeing you up for supper.

The group has made its home in the grounds of Keighley's historic Dalton Mills on Dalton Lane.

They have become a regular sight for people working for the various businesses that use the mill complex.

They circle around the mill yard seeking food, including pigeons, and fly around the adjacent River Worth, seemingly oblivious to the mills' transformation into apartments and business units.

Their residency has been welcomed by Chris Lee, senior management surveyor for mill developers Magna Holdings Ltd.

Chris said: "They are quite a rarity, and we will endeavour to safeguard them.

"They seem to have been drawn to Dalton Mills because of the tall chimneys, which allow them relative privacy, and the frequent supply of pigeons."

Peregrines are the largest falcons in the UK, and there are only an estimated 1,402 breeding pairs.

They are usually found along rocky sea cliffs and uplands, rather than urban surroundings.

Peregrines have gained national media attention recently, with recent sightings in Malham Cove and Worcester, and an RSPB campaign encourages people to view them in their natural habitat.

The Keighley falcons were originally spotted at the mill last year by caretaker Jack Croft but disappeared over the winter.

Maureen Vink from Vink Property Services said the falcons have been seen over Dalton Mills for a while now.

She said: "They are fascinating to watch and they seem to be quite at home here."

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