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Meet Glasgow's new peregrine falcon chicks - Jack and Victor

Clarke Elsby Two peregrine falcon chicks with white down look at the camera while being held around the middle by a person behind themClarke Elsby
The university have welcomed new peregrine falcon chicks Jack and Victor

The University of Glasgow has named its two new peregrine falcons chicks Jack and Victor after the lead characters from BBC Scotland sitcom Still Game.

The birds of prey hatched on the rooftop of the university tower last month.

The university said the falcon parents Bonnie and Clyde, who are officially considered staff at the university, have nested on the rooftop of the tower each spring since 2022.

They were named in reference to the phrase "Bonnie Scotland" and for the River Clyde - as well as the notorious crime duo.

Victor and Jack from Still Game smile at the camera with their arms folded
Jack and Victor, played by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, were the stars of Still Game

The university installed cameras in the nesting area at the top of the Gilbert Scott tower and saw the eggs appearing to move last month.

Jack and Victor hatched on 27 April and the Glasgow Peregrine Project said it observed a "big change" in Bonnie and Clyde's behaviour at the time.

The project is led by the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, the University of Glasgow and the RSPB, with support from a number of other groups.

A spokesperson said: "Once peregrine chicks hatch, the adults (especially the female) become fiercely protective, chasing away any threat including birds, mammals, and even humans."

The parents "worked hard" to feed the chicks over the following weeks to keep up with their growing appetites.

Getty Images Glasgow University's gothic style main building which surrounds an inner courtyard. The tower reaches up to a tall height with turretsGetty Images
The peregrine falcons nest on top of the Gilbert Scott tower
Clarke Elsby A man wearing a harness scales an old Gothic building tower Clarke Elsby
Staff scaled the Gilbert Scott building to tag the chicks on the rooftop

Last week, staff scaled the 278 feet (85m) tall Gilbert Scott tower to the rooftop so that the chicks could be tagged, weighed and swabbed for DNA.

Lightweight rings were fitted to their legs which contained tiny electronic microchips that act like barcodes.

This allows researchers to identify and track the birds throughout their lives so they can gather data on survival, movement and behaviour.

The university previously welcomed four peregrine falcon chicks on the tower last year.

Clarke Elsby Two peregrine falcon chicks with white fur look at the camera while being held around the middle by a person sitting behind themClarke Elsby
The falcons nest on top of the Gilbert Scott tower
Clarke Elsby People tag a peregrine falcon chick on the rooftop of the tall Gilbert Scott tower. Glasgow can be seen in the distance belowClarke Elsby
The baby falcons were tagged to track them for conservation efforts

Clarke Elsby, building surveyor at the University of Glasgow, said: "We're keen that Bonnie and Clyde, and now Jack and Victor, are kept in the best possible condition while sharing their stories with our Glasgow community.

"Thanks to this project, we're not only preserving these remarkable residents, we're also inspiring a new generation of wildlife enthusiasts across the city."

John Simpson, Clyde area bird recorder, said: "We're delighted to be able to contribute to the work of the Glasgow Peregrine Project, and today's work was vital in following the stories of Bonnie and Clyde."

In recent years the Glasgow Peregrine Project has held peregrine watches at the university, allowing people to see the birds in their nest.