Peregrine Falcon Chick Hatches at St Albans Cathedral

Making history

Peregrine Falcon Chick Hatches at St Albans Cathedral - Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Peregrine chick next to an unhatched egg — Peregrine chick image: Barry Trevis

A peregrine falcon chick successfully hatched on St Albans Cathedral last week, making history as the first of the species to be born in the city.

Earlier in the month, it was announced that a pair of peregrines had bred on the Cathedral for the first time ever and that two eggs had been laid. Since then, there has been cautious excitement in the countdown to the eggs hatching, along with high levels of interest in the falcons from bird watchers and the local community, who have been visiting the Cathedral grounds to spot them.

The chick hatched in a purposely installed nesting tray in a location very high up on the cathedral and is being tended to by its parents. The peregrine project is part of the larger Wilder St Albans project, a collaboration between Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and St Albans City and District Council. The Wilder St Albans team linked up with local ornithologist and licensed bird-ringer, Barry Trevis, to construct and install the nesting tray at the Cathedral.

Heidi Carruthers, Wilder St Albans project officer said: “It is thrilling to see a chick has hatched safely and we are all really excited to follow the bird’s journey on to fledging. Peregrines are such an iconic species so it’s fitting to have them making a home on the most iconic building in St Albans. There has been a lot of interest in the birds so we’re hoping that we can use this as an opportunity to teach people about these birds and the other wonderful wildlife all around us in Hertfordshire.”