Latest news with #peregrinefalcons
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Peregrine falcon chicks hatch on Glasgow University tower
The University of Glasgow has named its two new peregrine falcons chicks Jack and Victor after the lead characters from BBC Scotland sitcom Still birds of prey hatched on the rooftop of the Gilbert Scott tower last university said the falcon parents Bonnie and Clyde, who are officially considered staff at the university, have nested on the rooftop of the tower each spring since were named in reference to the phrase "Bonnie Scotland" and for the River Clyde - as well as the notorious crime duo. The university installed cameras in the nesting area at the top of the Gilbert Scott tower and saw the eggs appearing to move last and Victor hatched on 27 April and the Glasgow Peregrine Project said it observed a "big change" in Bonnie and Clyde's behaviour at the project is led by the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, the University of Glasgow and the RSPB, with support from a number of other groups.A spokesperson said: "Once peregrine chicks hatch, the adults (especially the female) become fiercely protective, chasing away any threat including birds, mammals, and even humans."The parents "worked hard" to feed the chicks over the following weeks to keep up with their growing appetites. Last week, staff scaled the 278 feet (85m) tall Gilbert Scott tower to the rooftop so that the chicks could be tagged, weighed and swabbed for rings were fitted to their legs which contained tiny electronic microchips that act like allows researchers to identify and track the birds throughout their lives so they can gather data on survival, movement and university previously welcomed four peregrine falcon chicks on the tower last year. Clarke Elsby, building surveyor at the University of Glasgow, said: "We're keen that Bonnie and Clyde, and now Jack and Victor, are kept in the best possible condition while sharing their stories with our Glasgow community."Thanks to this project, we're not only preserving these remarkable residents, we're also inspiring a new generation of wildlife enthusiasts across the city."John Simpson, Clyde area bird recorder, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute to the work of the Glasgow Peregrine Project, and today's work was vital in following the stories of Bonnie and Clyde."In recent years the Glasgow Peregrine Project has held peregrine watches at the university, allowing people to see the birds in their nest.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bird flu found in dead nesting peregrine at Christchurch Priory
Tests on a pair of nesting peregrine falcons that died within days of each other have confirmed the female was infected with avian pair had settled at the top of Christchurch Priory, Dorset, with three eggs laid. The female died on 6 May and the male two days later, with the eggs not found to be viable.A spokesperson for the priory said it had not yet been officially notified about the cause of death for the male peregrine.A 3km (1.8-mile) controlled zone to help prevent the spread of the disease is in place between Kings Park, Boscombe, and just north of Bournemouth Airport. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) said all keepers of birds, including poultry, inside and outside of the zone must register them to help prevent the spread of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was also confirmed in captive birds on Sunday at a premises near affected birds would be be humanely culled, Defra added. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Peregrine falcons at St Albans Cathedral whose eggs were trampled by thug caught on camera defy odds to lay more - sparking joy from fans of birds' viral live stream
A pair of peregrine falcons whose eggs were destroyed when someone stepped on them during a live online video stream have caused joy after laying another clutch. There was widespread outrage after the sickening footage of their nest – on the roof of St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire – caught the three eggs being 'deliberately' crushed last month. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said at the time it was 'extremely unlikely' the birds of prey would produce more eggs this year. But the birds – called Alban and Boudica – have confounded the experts by producing a new egg on Sunday, followed by another yesterday. Chloe Edwards, director of nature recovery at the trust, said: 'It shows just how resilient nature can be. Given the right habitat and conditions, species will continue to thrive. 'We weren't expecting more eggs this year but nature can surprise and delight us. Welcome, indeed, given the loss and sadness many of us felt.' The birds began nesting at the spot in 2022, using a special shingle tray which replicates their natural clifftop habitat. They successfully hatched three eggs in 2023 and again in 2024, the year the live streaming began in a joint project run by the cathedral and the wildlife trust. A total of 519,882 people viewed the live feed in its first year, with a peak of 12,598 on May 9 when bird lovers tuned in to see the newly-hatched chicks. But there was dismay when this year's clutch was smashed on April 7. A BBC Three Counties Radio listener called Beverley described watching the scene unfold, as a noise that sounded like a door opening appeared to 'spook' the female bird. 'Then I saw a man's leg enter in front of the camera. He stood there for 30 or 40 seconds before literally walking across,' she said. 'He didn't stamp but he stepped on the eggs and just kept walking.' Another woman said on social media that she 'felt physically sick' after witnessing the incident. 'Two minutes earlier I was watching Boudica snuggle down, repositioning herself. Watched it all happen live. Felt physically sick. Absolutely shocking,' she wrote. Another person said: 'This made me so upset. Why, just why?' Police launched an investigation and the cathedral immediately suspended the stream, with its dean, The Very Reverend Jo Kelly Moore, saying: 'We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans.' Following the latest development, however, she added: 'We are heartened by their return and we remain fully committed to their safety and wellbeing.' The live feed has also now been reinstated, according to the cathedral's website, which said there were 'improved security arrangements'. Well-wishers also added comments online, with one saying: 'This is wonderful news, a blessing indeed! 'I just hope and pray the birds will be left in peace this time to raise their brood safely and without incident.' Hertfordshire Police today enquiries into the incident were ongoing. Peregrines are a crow-sized falcon that are the fastest diving bird in the world, reaching speeds of more than 200mph. The lofty cathedral is the perfect alternative to the birds' natural clifftop habitat They nest in high, out-of-the way spots such as cliffs, making cathedrals an ideal alternative. The birds often mate for life and return to the same nesting site each year. They normally lay three to four eggs each breeding season. The chicks hatch after about a month. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, damaging or destroying the eggs of wild birds carries a penalty of a maximum £5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.
