Once the chicks reached about three weeks old it became clear that there was a size difference. Males peregrines are substantially smaller than females. Thus we had a male and a female. As usual, the chicks became more adventurous at about 5 weeks old straying further and further from the safety of their nestbox.
By the second week of June the chicks were fully feathered and often seen wing-flapping in preparation for their first flights. Both were flying by mid-June. Initially they are quite clumsy but learn fast. They continue to be seen around Sussex Heights. Let’s hope they continue to do well. To date, a total of 60 young have fledged from this nest box at Sussex Heights. A remarkable achievement.
Graham Roberts, The Sussex Ornithological Society
