Peregrines nested on Jumbo, the water tower in the middle of Colchester, from 2017 to 2022. In January 2025 the site was blocked off in preparation for building works. Alternative nest sites should have been put in place before this happened.  The most suitable local site for a Peregrine nest box is the tower at Colchester town hall.  The falcons tried it for themselves in May this year, but the nest appears to have been washed away in a recent downpour.  This is why it is so important for a properly built nest box to be put in place without delay, ready for the next breeding season. The best bird of prey nest box builder has offered to make a bespoke box. Effective mitigation was promised at the planning stage, and a box on the town hall is the only realistic option for relocating these fantastic birds.

[Photo: Sean Nixon]