Peregrine falcon webcams capture quads births

"Hugely popular" peregrine falcon webcams situated on a church spire have captured the birth of four chicks.

For the past four years, two cameras have been perched at St Mary's Church, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, to record and live stream the adventures of the birds of prey that live there.

The cameras were installed on the 13th Century spire by the Academy of Physical Medicine in 2023, after a nesting box was fitted in 2015.

Steven Bruce, from the company based in the market town, said it was "looking good" for the quads to reach adulthood. The four surviving chicks this year is the most yet.

Bruce's company sponsors, maintains, refurbishes and cleans the cameras, that face both into the nest and outwards.

He said: "At the moment they all look like they're thriving, but we can't rule out disease, but I'm very optimistic about this lot.

"So far, we've had our most successful year yet."

The osteopath said in 2023 four birds were born, but sadly they all died from bird flu.

In 2024 two eggs were washed away when the female nested in a water spout, and in March last year four eggs were laid, but only three hatched.

One of the chicks died, leaving two to fly away.

This year's birds started to hatch from 22 April.

Bruce said: "I was on an online meeting when I watching the eggs hatch, it was wonderful.

"The cameras are hugely popular.

"We've got people in America watching, as well as people standing by the church and staring up at the nest."

The footage is broadcast live on YouTube and has about 900 subscribers.

Bruce said: "People just love it. It certainly cheers a lot of people up."

Mother Louise Bishop, the church's vicar, said: "We get load of birders here, it's brilliant.

"We're very grateful Ashgrove put the cameras in as we would then only see them -when they are flying around.

"They're a joy to have."

She was hopeful that the four chicks would survive and added: "It's looking good".

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