A FAMILY of kestrels has set up home in Burnley town centre.

The parents and four chicks have taken up residence in a town centre building, but their exact location is not being revealed amid fears that the protected birds may be disturbed.

Three of the chicks in the nest are about to fledge, while the fourth still has a lot of down. Both parents are making hourly trips to and from the nest to bring food to the kestrel babies.

Experts confirmed it was not too unusual for birds of prey to make their homes in town centres.

Alan Wright from Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: “Birds of prey do nest in urban areas because there is plenty of food like small birds and rodents for them to feed on.

“The most high profile of these has been the peregrines on top of the buildings in Manchester city centre.

“Kestrels are amazingly adaptable birds so it is not that rare to see them in town centres, but not normally on view like these.

“We have all seen them hovering above motorway verges looking for rodents so they can be at home in urban areas.

“We have to be careful when we give locations of nests because a minority of people do take advantage.

“The kestrel is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take a kestrel, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.

“It is also on the RSPB’s Amber List after numbers fell dramatically since the 70s because of changes in farming and the removal of hedgerows, which were great areas for their food.

“It is always a shame when we don’t give out locations because, to most people, sights like this are truly breathtaking. I just hope people will be happy enough to appreciate these wonderful pictures.”

KESTREL FACTS

  • In the UK, all wild birds, their nests, and their eggs are protected by law. But, despite the fact that it is illegal, persecution is still causing the deaths of hundreds of birds.
  • Kestrels are the most common bird of prey in Europe. The males have a grey head which contrasts with their red-brown plumage, but the females are browner.
  • What sets kestrels apart from other birds is that they can hover in stationary air, even indoors, for example in barns.
  • Kestrels mainly eat field voles, mice, shrews, moles, rats, frogs, and lizards.
  • Kestrel lay their eggs in April at two or three day intervals.