Cathedral's peregrine falcon chicks die

Ely Cathedral has not had resident peregrine falcons since 2021

Two peregrine chicks which were the first to hatch at the top of a cathedral in four years have died.

A pair of peregrine falcons had chosen the west tower of Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire as their nesting site this year.

The eggs were laid between 19 and 24 April - and the last egg hatched at about 12:45 BST on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Hawk and Owl Trust said in a social media post it was "saddened to share that both peregrine chicks died" over the weekend.

Both chicks had been seen being fed at 06:30 BST on Saturday, but neither survived into Sunday

"Chick mortality is, unfortunately, common in the first weeks of life due to natural vulnerabilities - limited temperature regulation, weak immune systems, and potential food issues all play a role," said the spokesperson.

"The adult falcon's behaviour also suggests she may be a first-time parent."

The younger chick died on Saturday morning, while the remaining chick died overnight on Saturday.

The cathedral saw its first pair of birds nest at the site in 2019 - with two chicks hatching a year later.

However, it said there had not been a resident pair of peregrines since 2021. This year, a new pair began using the cathedral as a nesting site and laid three eggs.

The trust added it would continue to monitor the adults, which have remained in the area.