A pair of peregrines have been resident on the ramparts of York Minster for many years now and I have painted the pair and photographed them too. In 2016 the pair laid eggs, but they didn't hatch out. But this year, 2017, I was delighted to learn on the @yorkperegrines twitter feed that 2 chicks have hatched. But on Monday I received a phone call from wildlife rehabilitator Jean Thorpe. "We've need to go and help at York Minster", she urged, "One of the chicks has been found in Deans' Gardens on the ground". It turned out that BBC Radio York presenter Anna Wallace had spotted it on her way into work. This peregrine had tried to fledge and had seemingly crash landed. Peregrines nest high up on the ramparts of York Minster where the Minster in association with @yorkperegrines and the RSPB had provided a nest tray for this schedule one listed bird to lay their eggs in. So this youngster would have been taking it's maiden flight from some significant height!
When I got to York Minster, I found the bird to be completely unharmed but grounded. It was unable to fly and I quickly realised that Jean, Doug of York Peregrines and I would need to return it to its nesting ledge. We picked up the bird. Jean Thorpe put an identification ring on its leg, so it could be tracked in the future and we carried it up through the Minster up and out safely onto the nesting ledge. Job done!
At 7.30am the following morning, the phone rang, It was Jean again, "Rob, one of the chicks is down again, can you come?" I jumped into the car and headed back into the middle of the city centre. It was the other chick, down on the ground. By the time I got there it had been spotted perched on top of a chimney pot. It flew again and was mobbed by aggressive herring gulls! Luckily it gave them the slip and got back onto York Minster.
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Juvenile Peregrine Falcon on York Minster Photo: Robert E Fuller - Juvenile Peregrine Falcon practising take off from some scaffolding on York Minster Photo: Robert E Fuller
It's not easy being a juvenile peregrine - but no doubt they will be getting stronger each day and they won't need any more assistance!
Peregrine of York Minster by Robert E FullerRead about the last time I went peregrine watching on York Minster by clicking here: https://www.robertefuller.com/peregrines-on-york-minster/
