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Peregrine chick hatches in 'wonderful comeback'

Louise Parry
BBC News, Hertfordshire
St Albans Cathedral One of the falcon parents bends over its chick to feed it beak to beak. The chick is white, fluffy and tiny and you can just make out one of its wings as it stretches towards its parents. There are two more eggs next to it. The birds sit on gravel in the nesting box, between two rooftops.St Albans Cathedral
The new chick hatched on Monday from a clutch of three eggs

A peregrine falcon chick has successfully hatched after its parents' first set of eggs – known as a clutch – was destroyed by a vandal.

The chick is the first to hatch this year at St Albans Cathedral, with the new baby seen on a live webcam.

Eggs belonging to the birds of prey were deliberately smashed in April, but the pair of falcons were not deterred and laid a second clutch.

"We're delighted to see the wonderful comeback these birds have made, demonstrating just how resilient they are," said Lea Ellis, engagement manager at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

Patrick Wainwright A peregrine falcon is sat on a roof on the left. On the right is another peregrine falcon flying. They both are grey feathered and have a yellow beak.Patrick Wainwright
The peregrine falcons have nested high up at St Albans Cathedral since 2022

The peregrine is a species of large crow-sized falcon and can travel at more than 200mph (320 km/h), making it the fastest diving bird in the world.

The falcon pair - who were named Alban and Boudica after local historical figures - captured the public's interest since producing chicks every year since 2022.

The new chick emerged on Monday from one of three eggs, with onlookers waiting to see if any brothers or sisters would hatch.

Ms Ellis said: "The hatching of their first chick this year signifies hope, and I am optimistic that we will see more chicks on the nest tray in the very near future.

"It is not unusual for the eggs to hatch hours or days apart and sometimes eggs do not hatch, as they can be infertile."

St Albans Cathedral A close up of the nesting box full of gravel sits between two rooves. Both parents are there - one perched on the side of the box and the other pecking at the floor. Two eggs are seen in the foreground and a white fluffy blob next to the eggs is the new bird.St Albans Cathedral
Parents Alban and Boudica are busy feeding and tending to their new chick - the white fluffy creature seen next to two eggs

She added: "For those watching the webcam, there will be times when the parents will be out of sight, but I'd urge people not to worry about this, as they will be close by to protect the chick or chicks."

Hertfordshire Police opened an investigation into the vandalised clutch in April and previously said inquiries were "ongoing".

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