Expect first Salisbury Peregrine chick towards the end of April

Incubation of the four eggs is well underway

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 8th Apr 2024

We've been told to expect the first of this year's Peregrine Falcon chicks at Salisbury Cathedral to hatch at the end of this month.

Four eggs have been laid in the nest box in the Spire Tower and the incubation period is now underway.

The Cathedral's resident Peregrine expert Granville Pictor told Greatest Hits Radio that incubation takes around 32 days, meaning the first egg should hatch in the final days of April.

"They normally start incubating after the third egg, possibly after the 4th egg," Mr Pictor told us.

He added: "The incubation is done mostly by the female, the smaller male takes over from time to time, and he sometimes has a bit of a bit of bother actually covering the eggs because he's so much smaller than female, but they get by."

This is the 12th year of Peregrine's being back in Salisbury, with their latest return being described as "absolutely amazing" by Mr Pictor.

Salisbury Cathedral a great location for Peregrines

Last year, four eggs were also laid, with three chicks hatching. They were named Lily, Rose and Rex.

Granville explained to us that the Peregrine's are as secure as they can be at the top of the Cathedral.

"It's obviously the only large structure for miles around in the otherwise flat Wiltshire landscape. And of course it's best part of 300ft up to the tower itself, and they're very secure up there," he said.

The nest box is situated on the south walkway, which has been closed to people on the Tower Tour, meaning the Peregrine's space is as protected as it can be.

This means the eggs can hatch in peace, after which they'll be given two identification rings.

One is a metal ring from the British Trust for Ornithology, with a large number on it. They also get fitted with a Darvik Ring, a coloured ring with two numbers or letters on it.

It means that bird watchers or anyone taking a photograph of them can identify where the birds have come from.

And while no chicks born in Salisbury have returned, there has been evidence of one Salisbury Peregrine nesting elsewhere.

Flo, who was born three years ago, has been spotted breeding on a disused breakfast cereal factory in Welwyn Garden City last year.