TWO young ornithologists from Salisbury Cathedral School have created their own Summerwatch update on the Cathedral's peregrines.
11 year-olds Ben Dennis and Eleanor Biddulph have picked up where the BBC’s Springwatch left off earlier in the year, and created a short 5 minute video bringing viewers up to date on the falcons.
The new footage shows the juvenile falcons practising their wing flapping, learning to feed independently and ultimately fledging.
The four peregrine juveniles, Pansy, Petunia, Sky and Perry, have thrived on the Tower so far – as yet unbothered by Sally, the previous Tower resident who was harassing the family earlier in the year – and the high walls of the balcony have proved a bonus, allowing the youngsters to strengthen their wings before taking their first flight.
By the time they can make it up onto the parapet they are pretty much airborne.
Enjoy watching our peregrines on @BBCSpringwatch? We know two young wildlife presenters of our own from @salisburycathsc who have got together to unpick our latest peregrine footage. #Summerwatch
— Salisbury Cathedral (@SalisburyCath) July 18, 2019
Now the juveniles can fly, they are being taught to catch prey by their parents, carrying out aerial food ‘passes’, with the adult dropping the prey for the youngsters to catch.
These acrobatics can be viewed through the RSPB’s Date With Nature telescopes situated on the West Lawn by the visitor entrance.
Sharp-eyed Tower Tour visitors say they also glimpsed them swooping by on high and perching on the Cathedral.
The youngsters will hang around the Tower until next month, maybe longer – and the RSPB telescopes will be available on the lawns until July 24.
Ben and Eleanor are planning to train as ringers this year and next year they may be able to assist regular ringer Ed Drewitt.
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