Peregrine Falcon chick born in Cork city — and another hopefully on the way
The new arrival is a "7cm long ball of fluff at the top of a windy tower" and the parents are Makeda and Solomon.
The Dean of Cork welcomed the hatchling. Reverend Nigel Dunne said: "We are delighted with this news."
"Hopefully this chick will thrive and be able, in Christ's words, 'to live life abundantly'."
And that's not all the good new either. It is hoped that a second egg will hatch in the coming days.
A Cathedral spokesperson said that "all are well, however these early weeks are a challenging time for all young birds".
The nest has a camera monitoring it and this project is a collaboration between St Fin Barre's Quarter Development Group who funded the nest camera and access equipment, BirdWatch Ireland. Dr Alan McCarthy has been providing expert advice and the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Sam Bayley has also giving oversight on the project.
Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey (raptors) with a short hooked bill. They have a heavy powerfully built body and a medium length tail — the female is larger than the male. The adult birds are a bluey grey with white underparts. Juvenile birds are similar to adults but have brownish upperparts and streaked, not barred, feathers on the body.
BirdWatch Ireland notes that: "Estimates of speeds vary, but it seems likely that birds reach speeds in excess of 300km/hour, making it the fastest animal on the planet."
The species is still recovering from a dramatic and well-documented decline in the 1950s and 60s due to the effects of pesticide poisoning.
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