BIRD lovers will no longer be able to get a birdseye view of Worcester’s famous feathered friends.
Two peregrine falcon chicks, which were born and reared on the city’s St Andrew’s Spire, in Deansway have flown the nest.
A nest camera and viewpoint was set up by the RSPB and Worcester City Council in April to allow people to watch the peregrine family.
Keen birdwatchers were able to watch as the adult pair nested and reared two chicks, which became the first in the city to be ringed.
More than 200 people took part in a competition run by your Worcester News to name the two chicks as Spiral and Chimes The viewpoint at the foot of the spire, which attracted hundreds of visitors from all the over the country, has now closed after Spiral and Chimes followed their natural instinct and left Worcester for the countryside.
The two adults are expected to stay in Worcester over the winter to defend the spire nesting site.
Sharon Boardman, people engagement officer with the RSPB, said: “We have had four brilliant months in Worcester where my colleague Ross Lawford and the rest of us at the RSPB have endured the same emotional rollercoaster of excitement and grief as thousands of local people over the changing fortunes of the peregrine family.”
“However, we know that peregrines and other birds of prey fall victim to human persecution all too often, and we encourage everybody who cares about these birds to help us stamp out the illegal persecution of birds of prey by signing our online campaign pledge on rspb.org.uk.”
Chris Dobbs, landscape architect with Worcester City Council, said: “This has indeed been an exciting summer and we hope the adult peregrines will choose to breed in Worcester next year.
“Meanwhile, we appeal to local businesses and individuals to help sponsor the project in terms of a new camera and other equipment to give us sharper pictures, which will hopefully lead to an even better experience for everybody who wishes to follow the lives of Worcester’s wild peregrines during the breeding season.”
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities email Mr Dobbs at cdobbs@worcester.gov.uk To read more about the RSPB’s work in Worcestershire visit rspb.org.uk/worcestershire.
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