Peregrine falcons put on a show at Tate Modern

A pair of peregrine falcons have ruffled a few feathers in the art world with regular appearances at the Tate Modern.

Misty and Houdini nest in the City of London but often spend their days on the roof of the Tate where they have a bird’s eye view of the capital.

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds volunteers Evie Prysor-Jones and Celia Leam were offering passers-by a chance to spy the pair using a telescope yesterday.

The RSPB regularly sets up the telescopes to monitor the progress of the birds who came to London eight years ago and were the first to return after the capital’s peregrine falcon population disappeared during the Forties.

Tim Web, the charity’s London spokesman said: “We regularly offer people the chance to use the telescopes down by the Tate Modern and it has proved very popular.

“The birds eat pigeons and like to spend time on high buildings because they are like cliffs which makes London ideal.”

There are now 24 pairs of peregrine falcons across London according to the RSPB.