Three peregrine falcon chicks have hatched, bringing joy to thousands on a livestream - a year after the nest on St Albans Cathedral was allegedly trampled on.
The tiny birds were seen chirping next to a fourth, unhatched egg over the weekend, with the first sighting of two chicks at around 2am on Saturday with the third hatching later that day.
Last April, there was widespread outrage after the 'sickening' footage of the falcon's nest – on the roof of St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire – caught the three eggs being crushed.
The birds, called Alban and Boudica, began nesting at the spot in 2022, using a special shingle tray which replicates their natural clifftop habitat.
But a livestream put in place to watch the charming birds captured the 'sickening' moment a human stepped on the eggs - and even had to temporarily shut down over the horror.
One woman described on social media how she 'felt physically sick' after witnessing the incident on the live stream: 'Two minutes earlier I was watching Boudica snuggle down repositioning herself. Watched it all happen live. Felt physically sick. Absolutely shocking.'
Others also reacted to the 'disgraceful' and 'sickening' incident, with one writing: 'Awful - totally awful - no words.'
A police investigation was launched but Hertfordshire Constabulary recently confirmed that the CPS concluded no prosecution will follow.
Three peregrine falcon chicks have hatched bringing joy to thousands on a livestream - a year after the nest on St Albans Cathedral was allegedly trampled on
The birds, called Alban and Boudica (pictured), began nesting at the spot in 2022, using a special shingle tray which replicates their natural clifftop habitat
Last April, a livestream put in place to watch the charming birds captured the 'sickening' moment a human stepped on the eggs
However, measures were introduced to 'support the safety and wellbeing of the peregrines' as a result of the crushed eggs.
A BBC Three Counties Radio listener called Beverley described at the time watching the scene unfold, as a noise that sounded like a door opening appeared to ‘spook’ the female bird.
‘Then I saw a man’s leg enter in front of the camera. He stood there for 30 or 40 seconds before literally walking across,’ she said.
‘He didn’t stamp but he stepped on the eggs and just kept walking.’
The Very Revd Jo Kelly Moore, the Dean of St Albans, told BBC News at the time: 'We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans Cathedral.'
A message appearing on the live cam website, which is run by St Albans Cathedral in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, also confirmed the 'very sad' news and said the stream would remain offline 'until further notice'.
St Albans Police said it was investigating the incident, which happened just after 10am on Monday.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: 'We are aware of livestream footage circulating involving peregrine falcon eggs at St Albans Cathedral and we are working with partners at St Albans Cathedral and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to look into the incident.
The birds have nested on the roof of the cathedral since 2022, producing several clutches of eggs
Peregrine falcons nest in high, out-of-the way spots such as cliffs, making cathedrals an ideal alternative
'We are also in contact with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
'Officers from the Rural Operational Support Team are speaking with a man to assist with their enquiries.'
Alban and Boudica have successfully hatched three eggs in 2023 and again in 2024, the year the live streaming began in a joint project run by the cathedral and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
A total of 519,882 people viewed the live feed in its first year, with a peak of 12,598 on May 9 when bird lovers tuned in to see the newly-hatched chicks.
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said at the time it was ‘extremely unlikely’ the birds of prey would produce more eggs last year after the eggs were crushed - however bird-lovers were soon overjoyed to see a further two eggs were laid.
Chloe Edwards, director of nature recovery at the trust, said: ‘It shows just how resilient nature can be. Given the right habitat and conditions, species will continue to thrive.
‘We weren’t expecting more eggs this year but nature can surprise and delight us. Welcome, indeed, given the loss and sadness many of us felt.’
The four eggs this year are a record number for St Albans Cathedral, which has seen three eggs laid every year since 2023.
The fourth egg may still hatch however some eggs are infertile and so the three chicks might be the complete set.
Peregrines are a crow-sized falcon that are the fastest diving bird in the world, reaching speeds of more than 200mph.
They nest in high, out-of-the way spots such as cliffs, making cathedrals an ideal alternative and the birds often mate for life and return to the same nesting site each year.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, damaging or destroying the eggs of wild birds carries a penalty of a maximum £5,000 fine and up to six months in jail.