THIS is the "rare and magical" moment the city's peregrines are ringed and then weighed in empty ice cream tubs. 

A handful of people went to Worcester Cathedral's bell tower today (Monday) to finally ring the city's peregrines chicks.

The four chicks, currently needing names, were taken out of their nest and weighed, measured and had two rings attached to their ankles.

Worcester News: The peregrines were weighed in ice cream boxes.The peregrines were weighed in ice cream boxes. (Image: Newsquest)The operation, run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), puts the chicks on a national database so they can be identified in the future.

Chris Dobbs, biodiversity advisor for Worcester Cathedral, said: "I think it is a rare thing as you don't normally get this close to a wild animal or a wild bird like this, especially when they're so small.

Worcester News: It took two people at a time to ring the peregrine chicks.It took two people at a time to ring the peregrine chicks. (Image: Newsquest)"When they are small, they are quite easily disturbed - you are not actually supposed to disturb them - but when you are here doing the ringing, you can touch them and see them and get very close-up shots.

"You can see how they react to what's happening to them.

"It is such a privilege to be near an animal so young in its early life."

Worcester News: The team in charge of gathering the chicks from their nest. The team in charge of gathering the chicks from their nest. (Image: Newsquest)The occasion marks the chick's three-week birthday - a time best suited for the activity as they are not too weak or claws too sharp.

Three ringers weighed, measured, and ringed the birds in 45 minutes.

One of the ringers, Jessica Stewart-Smith, said the operation can be quite challenging as the chicks do a lot of wriggling, but once the chicks soon get comfortable.

Worcester News: The small team in charge of the operation.The small team in charge of the operation. (Image: Newsquest)"It is such a privilege, and we are really lucky that we get to do this," she said.

"It is fantastic to get to see them close up. 

"We are building up a picture of their life history, and once they leave here, we can track them across the county and see where they are going.

Worcester News: One of the peregrines quite enjoyed being in one of the ringer's laps. One of the peregrines quite enjoyed being in one of the ringer's laps. (Image: Newsquest)"For example, we know that one of the females from last year has set up in Bolton."

Worcester Cathedral is now looking for a name for its two female and two male peregrines and has asked readers to email their suggestions to info@worcestercathedral.org.uk.

The favourite names will be announced in June.

The chicks will be ready to leave the nest in five weeks.