Peregrine webcam goes live at St Albans
05th April 2023
St Albans Cathedral has installed a webcam so people can watch a pair of Peregrine Falcons that have returned to the cathedral to breed for the second year in a row.
Peregrine webcam goes live at St Albans Cathedral. Watch live.
One of only five pairs in Hertfordshire, the birds have been seen on and around the Cathedral since early spring and now the public can view all the action coming live from their nesting tray.
Peregrine Falcons normally mate for life and often remain loyal to their nest site each year, so the Cathedral has taken the step of having the webcam installed, giving the public a birds-eye view of the iconic birds of prey.
Local ornithologist, Barry Trevis has been studying breeding Peregrine Falcons across Hertfordshire to help ensure the species’ safety and was on hand for advice in setting up the nesting area and webcam.
He said:
“The new webcam, which was carefully installed prior to the birds’ breeding, is an excellent tool in helping us to monitor the breeding success of the birds. Should they be successful, we will look to ring the chicks which can help provide information on the birds, giving us valuable insights into their survival rates and movements.”
Heidi Carruthers, Engagement Officer at Herts and Middlesex Trust said:
“The nesting tray was purposely installed high up on the Cathedral in March 2022, following the first sighting of a Peregrine Falcon pair by the Cathedral.
“Our team from the Wilder St Albans project, a collaboration between Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and St Albans City and District Council, linked up with local ornithologist and licensed bird-ringer, Barry Trevis, who constructed the tray with help from local bird photographer, Kevin Garrett.
“The tray and bags of shingle were then carried up high on the Cathedral to an area that the Peregrines were known to be favouring. The shingle was placed inside the tray to provide the correct substrate for the Peregrines to be able to make their shallow nest ‘scrape’, simulating the birds natural nesting sites usually found on cliff-top ledges, and providing them with a safe place to lay their eggs.
“There has been so much interest in the birds, it’s great to know that this year we’ll be able to get a close up view of their antics and I’m hopeful that we will see chicks too!”
In 2022, the peregrines caught the imagination of the public who named them ‘Boudica’ and ‘Alban’ in a vote run by the cathedral. The pair went on to successfully raise one chick, who, in a second round of voting, was named ‘Artemis’.
Kevin Walton, Canon Chancellor of St Albans Cathedral said:
“It is a great excitement to be able to see, watch and hear these Peregrine Falcons making their home here. Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house are rooms’ – and at St Albans Cathedral all God’s creatures are welcome!”
This year, it will be all eyes on the webcam to see what happens next!
All the live peregrine webcams including St Albans can be found here.
Additionally, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the RSPB are organising Peregrine Watch within the grounds of the Cathedral over weekends throughout spring and summer enabling the community to find out more about these magnificent birds and get a close up view through telescopes and binoculars, which will be provided.
A schedule of these events will be published online here.