Three falcon chicks take flight from cathedral nest

A wildlife trust says three peregrine falcon chicks born in May have flown their cathedral nest in what has been described as a "real boost for nature".

Since Boudica and Alban first bred at St Albans Cathedral, the pair have raised 13 chicks through to fledging.

The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said that was "some achievement, and adds to the ongoing recovery of the species in the UK".

The juveniles' early adventures were captured on a webcam, which was first installed in 2023 and has now been turned off for another year. The cathedral said it had garnered more than 500,000 views.

The fourth chick died as it "could not get the food it needed", the trust said.

"For the many people who have enjoyed tuning in on a daily, and sometimes hourly, basis, we know that may leave them with a void in their lives but we hope there is comfort in knowing they have witnessed this success story first-hand."

The trust expects Boudica and Alban to return to the cathedral next year for another "successful breeding season".

It said it was hosting a peregrine watch event in Verulamium Park in St Albans, near the cathedral, at the weekend where the public should be able to watch the juvenile birds and their parents "in action".

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