{"id":2189048,"date":"2025-11-11T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2189048"},"modified":"2025-11-08T10:56:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T09:56:31","slug":"sweet-peregrine-falcon-chicks-that-delighted-thousands-of-bird-lovers-on-livestream-were-poisoned-just-weeks-after-someone-stamped-on-eggs-at-another-cathedral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/sweet-peregrine-falcon-chicks-that-delighted-thousands-of-bird-lovers-on-livestream-were-poisoned-just-weeks-after-someone-stamped-on-eggs-at-another-cathedral\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweet peregrine falcon chicks that delighted thousands of bird lovers on livestream were POISONED just weeks after someone stamped on eggs at another Cathedral"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fury is growing at Worcester Cathedral after tests revealed its little peregrine falcon chicks had been poisoned – in the bird community’s second tragedy this year.<\/p>\n

Post-mortem examinations have revealed that two of the three birds, which lived on the roof of the church, died after ingesting poison.<\/p>\n

Bird lovers were delighted earlier this year when they watched three chicks successfully hatch on the Cathedral’s YouTube livestream.<\/p>\n

But they all died in May – resulting in the livestream being halted – and their bodies sent away to a lab for an analysis into their cause of death.<\/p>\n

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.’<\/p>\n

The Cathedral said juveniles have been spotted as far as Bolton and London in the past and are hopeful for more successful hatchings in the future.<\/p>\n

‘The established pair of adults have been sighted regularly around the Cathedral and City since May, and both appear to be in good health,’ the post continued.<\/p>\n

‘They have proven themselves to be excellent parents, so there’s no reason not to look forward to a more positive outcome next year.’<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

They were successful again in 2023 and 2024, adding another eight healthy chicks to the family.<\/p>\n

\"Bird
Bird lovers were delighted earlier this year when they watched three chicks successfully hatch on the Worcester Cathedral’s YouTube livestream<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"All
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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The church hopes the pair will return to their nest and breed again next year and will reinstate its livestream.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The church livestream was shut down, and thousands were left saddened as they watched the thug stomp on them.<\/p>\n

Viewers were quick to voice their disgust on social media, with one saying she ‘felt physically sick.’<\/p>\n

\u2018Two minutes earlier, I was watching Boudica snuggle down, repositioning herself. Watched it all happen live. Felt physically sick. Absolutely shocking,\u2019 she wrote.<\/p>\n

Another person said: \u2018This made me so upset. Why, just why?\u2019<\/p>\n

Police launched an investigation, and the cathedral immediately suspended the stream, with its dean, The Very Reverend Jo Kelly Moore, saying: \u2018We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Keen
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<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Viewers
Viewers were quick to voice their disgust on social media, with one saying she ‘felt physically sick’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But the birds Alban and Boudica surprised experts and produced a new egg in May.<\/p>\n

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said: \u2018It shows just how resilient nature can be. Given the right habitat and conditions, species will continue to thrive.<\/p>\n

Its nature recovery director, Chloe Edwards added: \u2018We weren\u2019t expecting more eggs this year, but nature can surprise and delight us. Welcome, indeed, given the loss and sadness many of us felt.\u2019<\/p>\n

More than 500,000 people viewed the Albans Cathedral’s livestream in 2024.<\/p>\n

On May 9 – more than 12,500 viewers were watching alone when three tiny falcon chicks hatched.<\/p>\n

The Daily Mail has approached Worcester Cathedral for comment.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> by Ashleigh McCaull was first published by The Daily Mail on 4 November 2025. Lead Image: Three peregrine falcons hatched at MGE.(Madison Gas & Electric).
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