Broedgevallen van de Slechtvalk Falco peregrinus in Midden-Kennemerland 2004-21

The Dutch Breeding Bird Atlases suggested that the Peregrine Falcon was absent as a breeding bird in Midden-Kennemerland in 1973-77, 1998-2000 and 2013-15 (van Geneijgen 2018). This is partly incorrect. Since 2004, the Peregrine Falcon has been breeding at the industrial site of Hoogovens in Velsen-Noord. In 2004-21, 15 successful breeding attempts were recorded here, and at least 38 young Peregrine Falcons were known to have fledged (mean: 2.1 per year and 2.5 per successful year). In 2015-16, breeding attempts failed in the egg stage. In 2019, a Peregrine Falcon pair was present, but no eggs were laid. At the Laurentius Church in Heemskerk, 6 km from the nest in Velsen-Noord, three successive breeding cases were recorded in 2019-21, resulting in 6 fledglings (2 each year). Major prey were pigeons (notably Racing Pigeon), waders (notably Lapwing and Woodcock), Jackdaws and thrushes, based on plucks and prey items in larders.