WORCESTER Cathedral’s peregrine family have now been named as the birds and their parents finally vacated their lofty nest.
After a gap of over 10 years, a mated pair of peregrines moved into the Cathedral Tower in 2022 and successfully nested, produced and fledged four chicks.
They returned again this year and have raised another family of four with the first egg being laid on Mothering Sunday.
More than 400,000 people across the globe have watched their development on a livestream over YouTube as the fluffy chicks soon found their wings.
The famous foursome’s recent history has been far from smooth with all four needing rescuing and returning to the nest during their attempts to leave.
Youngest chick – named Mr Lazy for his laid back approach to leaving the nest – fell from the perch and landed in College Green.
He was caught and returned to the parapet and hopped up onto the wall before staff made it back down.
Three of the chicks – Penguin, Penelope and Percie are flying well and gaining confidence with their wings.
All are learning to hunt with their parents Peggy and Peter’s help and will remain in and around the Cathedral for a couple of months before the foursome leave Worcester in search of their own territories.
Cathedral staff hope Peggy and Peter, named after the retiring Dean of Worcester the Very Rev Peter Atkinson, will return next year and have paid tribute to all who sent in naming suggestions.
Penguin’s name was inspired by a story of a person who misheard talk of ‘penguin falcons’ setting up home at the Cathedral.
In the meantime, the last peregrine drop-in session will take place today (Tuesday) from 2pm to 3.30pm on College Green, there is no need to book
