Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Growing up fast and chick ringing imminent

Update Thursday 8th: the two chicks will be ringed this afternoon, probably between about 2.30 and 3.30 pm.
Skilled abseilers Jess Eades and Nick Moyes will go down on ropes from the top of the tower.
Jess will bag and lower the chicks to the nave roof where they will be taken inside and ringed, weighed and measured. Nick will carry out some maintenance work on the platform meanwhile.
Chloe Pritchard, a licenced bird ringer, will process the chicks in a room inside the tower before they are bagged up again and returned to the nest.

The cams will be kept on so you will see human bodies at the nest and need not worry!

Photos and details will be posted on the blog afterwards.


This video made by Wendy Bartter on 6th May shows just how the two chicks have grown.
On 7th May they were 18 and 16 days old.

The size difference might indicate that the smaller chick is a male but time will tell.



If you have been enjoying watching the live stream and reading the blog and the many comments, do please consider making a donation to help keep the project running. Throught its 20 year life, the project has relied heavily on private donations from web cam watchers who have been incredibly generous and without whom the project would have collapsed years ago. You'll find a tab on the blog landing page titled 'Donations' which gives you various options. Thanks in advance!

The Project Team 
The project is managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust with great support from its excellent partners The Cathedral, Cathedral Quarter and the city council's IT team.

 


17 comments:

Wendy Bartter said...

Many thanks for new page ... this footage from earlier this morning shows how mobile chicks are and very vocal too indicating how hungry they are ...
https://youtu.be/DqJHsV03KtE

A feed is now in progress as I post this at 11.27

Wendy Bartter said...

Dad brings prey at 11.22 and proceeds to feed the chicks whilst Mum perched and shouted on & off but never attempted to take over ... he did very well and it was a long feed ...
https://youtu.be/aSk-FSSSypI

Wendy Bartter said...

Another long feed this time delivered by Mum at 14.55, chicks seem satisfied as not long before they lay flat out & not constantly cheeping ...
https://youtu.be/PadXqFaNuDQ

Jules said...

Another feed at 17.40 of small prey the larger chick seemed to take the majority, the smaller one did have some but didn't really put itself forward too much - possibly still satisfied from earlier?

Wendy Bartter said...

Quite possible Jules, it did feed well!

Wendy Bartter said...

Just read good news on Facebook about St Albans pair who have produced two new eggs after that wanton damage to their first clutch!😀

Jules said...

That's brilliant news fingers crossed for them 😊

Nattalie said...

How sweet is this news I am so happy for them what a miracle of these beautiful birds

Alison said...

It's wonderful news, but sadly tempered by the news that one of Worcester Cathedrals chicks has died overnight.

Peregrine Project Member (Nick M.) said...

Great news about St Albans' peregrines.
And just to clarify on Nick's recent update: we sincerely hope that you won't see "human bodies" on the webcams this afternoon. We intend to stay safe and return home afterwards to our families!

Wendy Bartter said...

I shall be recording this momentous event !
Chicks pre-ringing meal at 12.12
https://youtu.be/AWc-0MDTuOg

Tiggywinkle Class said...

we are woching all the work happening. we saw the chicks in the bag. it looks like a triky job! The aduit bird is coling in the backgrownd.

Alison said...

I wish one of the adults would go back so my stomach can settle again

Project Member (DWT) said...

Great that you could watch Tiggywinkles Class! Chicks now back in the nest and parents will return soon to feed them.
The Project team

Project Member (DWT) said...

PLEASE NOTE TO POST ANY NEW COMMENTS TO THE NEW BLOG POST WITH THE RINGING PHOTOS ON IT. THANKS

Wendy Bartter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Where are the parents?