Home / Environment / Poison Claims Lives of Beloved Cathedral Falcon Chicks
Poison Claims Lives of Beloved Cathedral Falcon Chicks
4 Nov
Summary
- Two of three Peregrine falcon chicks died from ingesting poison
- Livestream of chicks hatching at Worcester Cathedral had to be canceled
- Established pair of adult falcons still seen around the cathedral
According to a recent report, two of the three Peregrine falcon chicks that hatched at Worcester Cathedral earlier this year tragically died after ingesting poison. The cathedral had been delighted to watch the three chicks successfully hatch on its YouTube livestream, but the stream had to be canceled when all three chicks passed away in May.
Post-mortem examinations revealed that the cause of death was poison ingestion, though the exact source remains unknown. The cathedral has reported the findings to the authorities and the incident will be included in the 2025 British Trust for Ornithology annual report.
Despite this heartbreak, the cathedral remains hopeful for the future. The established pair of adult falcons has been spotted regularly around the cathedral and city, and they have proven to be excellent parents in the past. The cathedral is optimistic that the pair will return to their nest and breed again next year, and they plan to reinstate the popular livestream.
This is not the first time a cathedral's Peregrine falcon livestream has faced tragedy. Earlier this year, viewers of the St Albans Cathedral livestream were left horrified when they witnessed someone crush three Peregrine falcon eggs. However, the birds Alban and Boudica surprised experts by producing a new egg in May, demonstrating the resilience of nature.
