Viewers followed the chicks’ lives up in Worcester Cathedral until they suddenly died (Picture: Worcester Cathedral)
Bird lovers have been left shocked after a post-mortem exam showed that a cathedral’s peregrine falcon chicks had died by ingesting poison.
The chicks started their journey high up on the Worcester Cathedral, far away from most human and animal threats on the ground.
Three chicks hatched in the nest earlier this year and the cathedral launched a live stream to show their lives to the rest of the world.
Their parents, a falcon couple named Peter and Peggy, tended to the chicks in the nesting box they have used since 2022.
But suddenly in May, the three chicks died.
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Now a post-mortem examination of two of the three dead chicks has revealed that the cause of their untimely deaths was poison.
Worcester Cathedral said: ‘Two of the carcasses were recovered by the Peregrine Falcons in Worcester team and sent to a lab for analysis.’
This analysis would then be shared with the wildlife unit at West Mercia Police and the British Trust for Ornithology.
‘It is unknown how the chicks came to ingest a poison, and it is terribly sad that this happened this year, after three hugely successful years previously, where four chicks hatched each time and fledged successfully,’ the cathedral’s statement added.
The three little chicks hatched on top of Worcester Cathedral earlier this year (Picture: Worcester Cathedral)
‘Previous years’ juveniles have been sighted as far away as Bolton and London, which is wonderful, and we hope for more success in the future.
‘The established pair of adults, affectionately known as Peter and Peggy, or Mr and Mrs P, have been sighted regularly around the Cathedral and City since May, and both appear to be in good health. They have proven themselves to be excellent parents, so there’s no reason not to look forward to a more positive outcome next year.’
Since the chicks’ cause of death was revealed, many have reacted to the sad news on social media and wished Mr and Mrs P better luck next year.
One person said: ‘Incredibly sad. Hopefully they nest again this year without mishaps.’
The 11th-century Worcester Cathedral and its towers have become a nesting spot of choice for the peregrine falcons (Picture: Getty Images)
Another one wrote: ‘Possibly poisoning from rodent control and then rodent fed to chicks. Very sad.’
The cathedral tower has become a popular spot for the falcons’ home, but in the past it had seemed like they might not return.
After over a ten-year gap, a peregrine falcon couple – the chicks’ parents – moved into the cathedral in 2022 and successfully produced and fledged four young falcons.
The pair returned the following year and in 2024 to raise four chicks each season, the cathedral said.
A 24/7 high-resolution camera capturing video and audio was installed in 2023 so bird fans could follow closely what happens in the nest.
Footage before the death of the latest brood of chicks showed them hatching and feeding on various small animals from their parents.
Peregrine falcons are no longer considered endangered, but the species came under threat from the widely used pesticide DDT before it was banned. In the US, they had nearly disappeared from large parts of western states due to the substance.
Metro contacted Worcester Cathedral for a comment.
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