Bob Sheppard and I accessed the upper walkway at Boston Stump this morning and we are pleased to report that there were four healthy chicks which we estimate are 25/26 days old. There were two females and two males. They should be viewable from the ground in a few weeks time when they may perch on the upper parapet and start exercising their wings. Their first flights should be towards the end of this month. This will be a critical time for them as, quite often, their first flight may be unexpected with a gust of wind and, with four chicks, there is a reasonable chance that one may end up on the ground, in which case it will be returned up the tower to try again. They should provide some good entertainment once they start flying and chasing after their parents and taking food off them, in last week of June and first week of July.
The prey items strewn around the upper walkway indicates that they have been having an effect on the towns feral pigeons. All four have been ringed with an orange colour ring with two letters to aid identification in the field.
Alan
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