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London’s falcons compelled to consume parakeets following pigeons’ flight from the capital

London’s falcons fed on starlings and parakeets during the pandemic, when pigeons fled the city.

In a recent study titled “The Raptor Lockdown Menu,” published in the British Ecological Society journal People and Nature, researchers examined how Covid-19 lockdowns impacted peregrine falcons’ feeding behaviors in the nation’s capital.

The fewer people outside meant that fewer pigeons were enticed out by the prospect of abandoned food, forcing their predators to look for alternative prey.

Falcons found an alternative in starlings and parakeets, the study found. However, researchers also observed no discernible change in the feeding habits of falcons in other major cities. 

Academics at King’s College London and University of Bristol who authored the report said their findings illustrate just how susceptible the raptor population in the nation’s capital is to being influenced by changes in human behaviour. 

They used online live-streams to monitor more than 31 falcon nests in almost 30 cities around the country over the course of three breeding seasons. 

Dr Brandon Mak of King’s College London said: ‘Our results indicate that peregrines in larger, highly urbanised cities like London may be more dependent on, and hence more vulnerable to changes in, human activities which support their prey populations, particularly feral pigeons.

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“The world is still learning about the consequences of lockdowns on wildlife, which promises to shed light on how human and animal lives are linked in our shared environments.’

Peregrine falcons ate parakeets and starlings after pigeons fled cities in lockdown

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 27-FEB-2023 05:01 GMT (00:01 ET) Falcons caught on a webcam at Chichester Cathedral with a woodpecker they caught. See SWNS story SWSCfalcons. London's falcons turned to eating parakeets after pigeons fled the capital during lockdown, a new study reveals. With fewer people about, pigeons were no longer lured in with discarded fast food, leaving their natural predators having to look elsewhere. So peregrine falcons had to turn to starlings and parakeets to fill the gap. But in other cities in the study pigeons remained falcons? favourite food.
Lockdowns meant there was a lack of discarded food in London, leading to fewer pigeons for the city’s falcon population to prey upon
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 27-FEB-2023 05:01 GMT (00:01 ET) Falcons caught on a webcam at Chichester Cathedral with a woodpecker they caught. See SWNS story SWSCfalcons. London's falcons turned to eating parakeets after pigeons fled the capital during lockdown, a new study reveals. With fewer people about, pigeons were no longer lured in with discarded fast food, leaving their natural predators having to look elsewhere. So peregrine falcons had to turn to starlings and parakeets to fill the gap. But in other cities in the study pigeons remained falcons? favourite food.
Falcons ate roughly 15% fewer pigeons during the period covered by the story
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 27-FEB-2023 05:01 GMT (00:01 ET) Falcons caught on a webcam at London Metropolitan University with a parakeet they caught. See SWNS story SWSCfalcons. London's falcons turned to eating parakeets after pigeons fled the capital during lockdown, a new study reveals. With fewer people about, pigeons were no longer lured in with discarded fast food, leaving their natural predators having to look elsewhere. So peregrine falcons had to turn to starlings and parakeets to fill the gap. But in other cities in the study pigeons remained falcons? favourite food.
Instead, London’s peregrines ate far more parakeets and starlings

Dr Mak and his fellow researchers observed that during London’s lockdowns, peregrine falcons ate roughly 15% fewer pigeons, compared with a seven percent and three percent increase in the number of starlings and parakeets eaten, respectively. 

They drew comparisons to the goshawk population in Poland, which dropped by almost 50% after farmers stopped keeping domestic pigeons and chicken, the goshawk’s chosen prey.

Such changes can have adverse effects on the health of birds of prey, given that their first choices are usually the more nutrient-rich options. 

They may also have consequences for reproduction and fitness levels, given that hunting fasting prey can consume more time and energy.

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