You can still watch rare falcons in city (From Worcester News)

You can still watch rare falcons in city

10:20pm Tuesday 18th November 2008 in

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KEEN-eyed animal lovers will still be able to spot two popular birds over the skies of Worcester.

Over the summer, hundreds of people visited the St Andrew’s Spire to try to catch a glimpse of the city’s own peregrine falcons.

The rare birds, which are the world’s fastest animals, laid their eggs in March in a specially-built nesting box on the spire in Deansway and were a star attraction.

Visitors were able to watch the two chicks hatch via a live nest camera, as well as watch them grow, see pictures of them being ringed and also take their first flights.

The youngsters were named Spiral and Chimes by two Worcester News readers after we received hundreds of suggestions through competition entries.

But despite all the excitement dying down, and the RSPB tent – which was at the base of the spire almost daily – being packed away until next year, there is still a chance to see the birds. Ross Lawford, who was the RSPB peregrine falcon officer for Worcester, said the two adult birds still rule the city skys and can be seen near or on the cathedral.

“People still ask me about the peregines when I am town, and they are sometimes quite amazed when I tell them you can see them throughout the year,” he said.

“Since the project ended in August and the chicks fledged, the adult birds have molted, are still together and are also roosting on the cathedral.

“Anyone with good eyesight can still catch a glimpse of these fantastic birds,” he added.

There have not been any official sightings of Spiral and Chimes since they left the spire in the summer, but this is not unusual as they often go to seek their own territory.

“We do hope that one day we will be able to see them as they raise families of their own,” he added.

Peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds of more than 200mph, have become increasingly common in city centres in recent years, with tall buildings replacing the birds’ traditional cliff face nesting ground.

At one point in the 1950s, there were just 360 breeding pairs in the UK, but the figure has now risen to 1,500.

Our previous video of the chicks being 'ringed'. (see our previous stories in the list to the right):