IT was an emotional farewell – for now – for peregrine chicks perched on high at Salisbury Cathedral’s south tower as the season officially came to an end.
Thousands of eagle-eyed viewers on the popular livestream kept an eye on the nest box cameras as they watched the four peregrines grow from furry, hungry chicks screeching for food to fully fledged independent adults soaring high above the cathedral grounds.
The chicks – called Douglas, Afon, Ford, and Shannon after a request was put out for water-themed names – were taught some important life lessons by their parents, including crucially how to hunt their prey.
But now, the popular cathedral residents will have to fend for themselves.
Cameras have now been turned off, so viewers will have to wait until next year to witness the next iteration of peregrines grow up in the city.
The chicks first started hatching from their eggs in April, after the parents went through the usual courting rituals in January – a month earlier than expected.
And over the coming months, the chicks grew into fledglings and began to explore their surroundings – with some adapting quicker to flying than others.
A cathedral spokesperson said it will become more difficult to establish if the birds are now alive and well as they will spent more time away from the cathedral.
But they expect some to return to roost, as well as their parents.
READ MORE: Braden Lynam jailed after running down two pedestrians in Salisbury in fit of rage
A cathedral spokesperson said: “We’ve had the most amazing time watching our resident peregrines this year as they carefully cared for the eggs, tended to the chicks, and soared through the skies with the juveniles as they learned how to hunt.
“Thank you to everyone who has joined us on the webcams and online. We will be turning the cameras off on September 1, but they will be back on early next year for what we hope will be another successful nesting season!”
The chicks not long after they were ringed Picture: Salisbury Cathedral
It has been suggested that both the adults and the chicks will fly out in a a roughly westerly direction over the water meadows and out towards Wilton.
It is also common for the chicks to stay in the area to continue to beg for food from their parents.
Less is also known about whether the chicks get chased out of their nesting territory by their parents, or whether the chicks leave of their own volition.
“What is certain is that, despite their apparent speed and dexterity on the wing, young peregrines in their first year of life face a hard time,” a spokesperson added.
“Many will not be accomplished hunters and starve to death, whilst many fall victim to accidents such as colliding with buildings or power lines.
“Data on mortality is hard to come by and must vary from area to area, but it is generally thought that perhaps only about 50% of young peregrines make it through their first year.
“Mortality of adults in established territories is thought to be perhaps in the 10-20% range every year, so it is clear that having survived their first year, the prospects of the birds in subsequent years improve substantially.”
The next job for cathedral staff is to clear out the nest box of any remaining debris from their hunts, which will give an insight into what the chicks were eating.
Leave a Reply