Inside rare bird's life nesting in Glasgow University tower

Glasgow Times

15-06-2025

The Glasgow Peregrine Project watches over and helps nurture the family that has been nesting at the site since 2022.
The project recently announced that the happy couple Bonnie and Clyde had two chicks, Jack and Victor; however, they've experienced a recent tragedy.
Unfortunately, one of the chicks, Jack, contracted Bird Flu and had to be put to sleep to ease his suffering.
The remaining chick, mum, and dad are doing well, though, and the team say they're 'carrying on with their usual antics'.
John Simpson, 62, from the Glasgow Peregrine Project (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: Mack rebuild 'at risk' from 02 ABC plan says Glasgow School of Art
Bonnie and Clyde are the only pair of Peregrines in the city. They are part of a population of only 1,000 across the country, with numbers dropping in the West Coast especially.
Local recorder for The Scottish Ornithologists' Club, John Simpson, helped establish the project, which is run alongside the University and several other conservation groups, including the RSPB.
John's been studying Peregrines for over 45 years and has a real passion for the birds and helping spread awareness and engagement.
Speaking about the project, John, 62, said: "It's the bizarrest thing on the planet, these peregrines sitting at the top of the tower, it's like something out of Batman.
"And then their view! It's like the tea towel of Glasgow, all the landmarks are laid out in front of them.
"We always joke that it's the most prestigious address in the city. You're in the penthouse suite.
"Gilbert Scott Tower, University of Glasgow, you're in the West End, you know, it would cost you a fortune to get a house up there.
"And there we have the city's apex predator nesting, it's phenomenal."
Pictured at left is Clyde, right, Victor (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: Plans for O2 ABC site recommended to councillors despite 'negative impact'
John explains that peregrines are at the top of the city's food chain and will feast on "public enemy number one, the pigeon," among other things.
They can get a bit of bad press for their diet, but John hopes that people coming to see the raptors will have their opinions changed.
He explained: "If it were lions or tigers or leopards, they wouldn't be getting the same bad press for some reason or other. But this is our apex predator in the city.
"This is a remarkable opportunity to get people engaged in looking at ecology and the breeding biology of these birds."
Mum, Bonnie and Dad, Clyde, have had a few chicks every year, and when two male chicks were born in April, their names came very quickly.
John said: "The mum's named after Bonnie Scotland and the dad, River Clyde.
"So when we were ringing the chick and found out it was two males, someone shouted out 'Jack and Victor', and we thought - perfect, bang on... two lads living up Osprey Heights."
Inside rare bird's life nesting in Glasgow University tower (Image: Colin Mearns) READ MORE: Glasgow university graduate 'set to join Love Island line up'
Caring for the birds is no easy task. With each venture up to their nest via abseil costing the project £2,500, they keep their visits as few as possible.
They did rush to try to help Jack, and an emergency abseil took place in an attempt to save him.
Now the solo chick in the nest, Victor, is getting plenty of attention from Bonnie and Clyde and has started flying around the campus.
He'll be there for a few months while he grows into an adult, and people have been flocking to see the trio.
The project runs regular watches (Image: Colin Mearns) They run weekly peregrine watches on Saturday from 10am - 12noon, and also provide scopes and binoculars to view the peregrines.
The watches are located outside of the Hunterian Art Gallery and are free for anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of the rare birds.
You can follow the project on social media to see regular updates from the nest and beyond, and find out more on their website, here.