Post-mortems have revealed two of the three Peregrine falcon chicks outside Worcester Cathedral died after ingesting poison.
Bird lovers were delighted earlier this year when they watched three chicks successfully hatch on the Cathedral’s YouTube livestream.
But they all died in May after ingesting poison – resulting in the livestream being canned – and their bodies sent away to a lab for an analysis into their cause of death.
Worcester Cathedral posted online: ‘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 Catherdal said juveniles have been spotted as far as Bolton and London in the past and are hopeful for more successful hatchings in the future.
‘The established pair of adults 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,’ the post continued.
After more than 10 years , a new pair of peregrines named Peggy and Peter moved into the Cathedral in 2022 and successfully nested, produced and fledged four chicks.
They were successful again in 2023 and 2024, adding another eight healthy chicks to the family.
Bird lovers were delighted earlier this year when they watched three chicks successfully hatch on the Worcester Cathedral’s YouTube livestream
All three Peregrine falcon chicks died in May – resulting in the livestream being canned – and their bodies sent away to a lab for an analysis into their cause of death
The church hopes the pair will return to their nest and breed again next year and will reinstate its livestream.
The Cathedral has reported the post-mortem results to the authorities. The deaths will also be included in the 2025 British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) annual report.
Keen bird followers were also left horrified in April after a livestream at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire caught the moment someone crushed three peregrine falcon eggs.
The church livestream was shut down, and thousands were left saddened as they watched the thug stomp on them.
Viewers were quick to voice their disgust on social media, with one saying she ‘felt physically sick.’
‘Two minutes earlier, I was watching Boudica snuggle down, repositioning herself. Watched it all happen live. Felt physically sick. Absolutely shocking,’ she wrote.
Another person said: ‘This made me so upset. Why, just why?’
Police launched an investigation, and the cathedral immediately suspended the stream, with its dean, The Very Reverend Jo Kelly Moore, saying: ‘We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans.’
Keen bird followers were left horrified in April after a livestream at Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire caught the moment someone crushed three peregrine falcon eggs
Viewers were quick to voice their disgust on social media, with one saying she ‘felt physically sick’
But the birds Alban and Boudica surprised experts and produced a new egg in May.
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said: ‘It shows just how resilient nature can be. Given the right habitat and conditions, species will continue to thrive.
Its nature recovery director, Chloe Edwards added: ‘We weren’t expecting more eggs this year, but nature can surprise and delight us. Welcome, indeed, given the loss and sadness many of us felt.’
More than 500,000 people viewed the Albans Cathedral’s livestream in 2024.
On May 9 – more than 12,500 viewers were watching alone when three tiny falcon chicks hatched.
The Daily Mail has approached Worcester Cathedral for comment.
