Peregrine Chicks Named at Salisbury after a Public Vote

Salisbury Cathedral’s three peregrine chicks have just been named and ringed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Cathedral’s Nature Conservation Adviser.

Peregrine Chicks at Salisbury Cathedral have been named.

The chicks, which are around three weeks old, were weighed, measured and fitted with a small metal British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ring on its right leg, used for tracking/record-keeping, and a larger orange plastic Darvic ring bearing a unique two-letter ID on its left leg.

The Darvic ring allows anyone with sharp eyes, binoculars or a telescope to identify the falcons and let the BTO know where they saw them and how they were.

Ringing is an important part of the Cathedral’s peregrine project because it provides the BTO and Cathedral with clues as to the secret lives of these birds, where they go and what they do.

Watch all the live peregrine webcams at cathedrals across the country by clicking here.

The peregrines were also named during the ringing procedure. An initial shortlist themed around the Coronation was provided by Cathedral volunteers and last week the choice was opened up to a public.

Six hundred and fifty-three people took part in the public vote and chose Rex, Rose, and Lily – inspired by the Coronation.

The single male chick was named Rex with 196 votes.

Rose was top choice for the females- named after the Right Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury who presented Queen Camilla with The Queen Consort’s Rod during the Coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

She is the largest of the chicks, Rose and the third chick was named Lily, the smallest chick.

The Cathedral Flower Arrangers put forward the name because it is a symbol of purity, joy, love and sincerity, and one of the favourite flowers grown at Buckingham Palace, a flower frequently used in Royal Bouquets.

The Salisbury chicks will remain on the South Tower balcony for a further three weeks during which time they will start moving up and down the balcony, flapping their wings to strengthen them and growing their juvenile plumage.