Lockdown forced London’s peregrine falcons to eat more parakeets

Pigeons are usually a favorite prey for London’s peregrine falcons, but during the 2020 covid-19 lockdown, the peregrine catches more starlings and parakeets.

To madeleine cuff

Peregrine falcons in London switched from eating pigeons to parakeets during the first covid-19 lockdown of 2020. Because urban birds felt the effects of humans at home.

peregrine falcon (peregrine falconThe world’s fastest bird) arrived in British cities in the 1990s and was drawn to the abundance of its favorite prey, pigeons.

However, the covid-19 pandemic has caused a drastic change in the diet of some people.

Citizen scientists working with researchers at King’s College London used live streams from 42 peregrine nests in 27 cities in the UK to monitor peregrine feeding during three breeding seasons.

The first – between March and June 2020 – coincided with the first coronavirus lockdown in the UK. At this point in London his 35% of falcon prey was pigeons, 36% starlings and 18% parakeets.

At the same time in 2021 and 2022, when covid-19 restrictions were much relaxed, 49% of peregrine falcon diet was pigeons, 29% starlings and 15% parakeets in London.

Brandon Mack of King’s College London says the change in diet is probably due to the effects of lockdown. Pigeons scatter in suburbs during lockdown, leaving peregrines to resort to other prey.

Peregrine in other UK cities did not see the same dietary changes. That’s probably because the pigeons there didn’t rely as much on human litter for food, says Mack.

Ring-necked Parakeet (Kramer parrot) Established in London in the 1970s. The RSPB, a bird conservation charity, is concerned that its growing population in southeast England is outstripping native birds for food and nesting sites.

More falcons may offer a solution. London is believed to have 40 breeding pairs, making him one of the densest populations in the world.

Since the lockdown was lifted, their diets have reverted to their normal pigeon-rich diet, says Mack. Yes, he says.

“Eventually, predator numbers will mirror prey numbers,” Mack says. “As time goes on, pigeon and parakeet numbers start to decline as pigeon saturation is reached.”

Sign up for Wild Wild Life. Our free monthly newsletter celebrates the diversity and science of the animals, plants, and other strange and wonderful inhabitants of our planet.