![]() In other cases, they’re migratory birds such as the Curlew sandpiper. Some prey are non-migratory birds, such as the Great spotted woodpecker. It’s therefore not surprising that he is found in Brussels in large numbers. The prey that is most often caught, is the City pigeon. The smallest prey, the Lesser Whitethroat weighed about 10 grams, whereas the largest, the Wood pigeon, weighed over 500 grams. Since the couple took up residence in the cathedral in 2004, they have feasted on at least 65 different bird species including 3 killed during a territorial fight. ![]() ![]() These form a spare supply in case the weather is too bad to go hunting. The falcons regularly hide prey in the bell tower. A final method to identify prey, is by going through the falcons’ supplies. You can see this collection of feathers from prey at our observation post. The prey are therefore usually identified through direct observation with telescopes and through the remains that the falcons drop from the nest. Since the parents usually pluck the prey before bringing it to the nest, it is often difficult to see what species they have caught. The identification of the prey also happens by means of the cameras. This way, ornithologists can count the number of prey the parents bring to their young, they can compare the male’s behavior with that of the female, note at what times the chicks are fed and see from what age the young can feed themselves. All images are automatically stored when any type of movement occurs in the nest. ![]() Thanks to the cameras by the nest, the ornithologists can study the feeding habits of the Peregrines on the cathedral. Very exceptionally, they’ll catch a bat or a prey on the ground. Peregrine falcons feed almost exclusively on birds they catch in full flight. ![]()
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