The Cathedral’s famed peregrine falcons have returned for the forthcoming breeding season and have been sighted regularly from the Cathedral grounds.
The male, affectionately named Maverick, is back defending his territory with the same female. The pair previously raised four chicks.
Over the years, the peregrines have delighted visitors with sightings from the Cathedral grounds from March until July. There will be a series of Open Days at weekends (all weather permitting) so that visitors will have a chance to watch the peregrines through a telescope, view footage, and learn more about the birds and their activities (full details can be found on the Events Page on the website). The dates are:
- May 2/3, 8/9/10 and 16/17 (Update 30/03/20: CANCELLED)
- June 6/7, 13/14, 20/21 and 28
- July 4/5 and 11/12
The peregrine project will be run jointly by the Cathedral, the Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) and local wildlife enthusiasts David and Janet Shaw who have been observing the birds since 2001.
The peregrines have some new neighbours this year as a pair of ravens have set up house on the ‘crown’ of the small spire behind the peregrines’ nesting site. Both peregrines have been seen launching attacks but this has not deterred the ravens who seem to be keeping to the air space on the east side of the Cathedral.
Peregrines were seen on the tower in the mid-1990s They have been very successful nesting on the Cathedral and have fledged more than 60 chicks since 2001. These magnificent birds of prey can grow up to half a metre in length and have a wingspan of over a metre. They live for 15 to 18 years and are the fastest animals in the world, diving at speeds of just under 250 miles an hour to catch their prey.
In celebration of the peregrines’ popularity, the Cathedral is running a ‘Paper, Paste and Peregrines’ adult art workshop on Wednesday 10 June. Participants will explore texture, pattern and collage to create a series of mixed media images using the peregrines as a starting point for inspiration, as well as other visual representations of birds within tapestries, paintings and stained glass in the Cathedral. The workshop costs £25 per person and is suitable for beginners as well as those with previous artistic experience.
Visitors to the Cathedral website will also be able to watch their progress from a webcam installed in the nesting site on the spire. If you spot the peregrines, share the moment with us using the hashtag #ChichesterPeregrines on social media.
The image shows the female peregrine about to launch to confront the ravens as they return to their nest. Photo: David Shaw Wildlife.