Peregrine falcon gets new nest in Bungay church

Bungays female peregrine falcon sitting on the church. (Image: Archant)

The young bird took up residence on St Mary’s Church last year and after showing her commitment to the town, a group set about finding a location for a permanent nest box.

The box has now been put in place on the south-west corner of the church, with the town hoping it might tempt her to breed.

Bungay town councillor Olly Barnes, who started the project during his time as mayor, said: “It’s taken the best part of six months, and we are very pleased we’ve got it in place now. She’s been here for about 18 months and it would be lovely if she found a mate this year.”

The project has been a collaboration between the council, the Friends of St Mary’s and the Waveney Bird Club (WBC), along with help from the Churches Conservation Trust and Waveney District Council’s conservation officer.

Steve Piotrowski, president of WBC, said: “We are ecstatic that everything has come together now and we are just hoping that the peregrine will like it, which I’m sure she will.

“If the peregrine does take up residence we are looking to put CCTV in the box and connect it up to the church so people visit the church and see her in residence.

“We are hoping that will increase the number of visitors to the town and our peregrine will become quite an attraction.”

The box needed to take into account the church turrets, and was manufactured by SOLD (Special Objectives for Local Disabled) at their workshop in Lowestoft.

The box was then painted by local artist Malcom Cudmore, to make it blend in with the historic lichen-clad structure of the church, and was put in place with the help of Seamus and Rory Clifford from Down to Earth landscaping and fellow tree surgeon John Hollis.

“Everyone has been brilliant,” said Mr Barnes. “It’s been a big community effort.”