WATCH: Peregrine chicks get live webcam at cathedral

You can now watch live footage of Wakefield Cathedral's four peregrine chicks.
Peregrine chicks at Wakefield Cathedral.Peregrine chicks at Wakefield Cathedral.
Peregrine chicks at Wakefield Cathedral.

Streaming of the chicks’ adventures began last Friday through the Wakefield Naturalists’ Society (WNS) website.

Among their first live appearances was being fitted with identification rings last Saturday.

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WNS president John Gardner, said the birds, which were born at Easter, were carefully removed from their nestbox on the spire and were ringed within 30 minutes to keep disturbance to a minimum.

Wakefield Cathedral peregrine chicks.
Picture: John Gardner.Wakefield Cathedral peregrine chicks.
Picture: John Gardner.
Wakefield Cathedral peregrine chicks. Picture: John Gardner.

Photographer Mr Gardner, who took these four pictures, said: “The chicks weren’t caused any distress. They just seemed bemused by the process and were inquisitive.

“They kept calling now and again, which kept the parent birds interested and to let them know they were there.

“They took it in their stride and were put back in the nest. Within half an hour the parent birds were back in the nest.”

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The metallic rings from the British Trust for Ornithology were placed on the right leg. Each ring contains a unique reference code, which allows the birds origins to be traced if they are recaptured or found dead elsewhere.

Peregrine chicks are placed on a ringing mat for their identification rings 
Picture: John Gardner.Peregrine chicks are placed on a ringing mat for their identification rings 
Picture: John Gardner.
Peregrine chicks are placed on a ringing mat for their identification rings Picture: John Gardner.

More visible rings, known as Darvic rings, were planned to be fitted yesterday afternoon. These will go on the left leg. The plastic Darvic rings are much bigger than the metallic rings and can easily be seen through binoculars and telescopes.

Click here to see live footage of the birds. Please be aware prey can be taken into the nest.