A global audience of online birdwatchers are celebrating after the highest number of peregrine chicks in eight years were born in Sheffield.<\/p>\n
Last week’s successful hatching of four eggs came as an unexpected surprise after adverse conditions left many pessimistic.<\/p>\n
While the eggs were laid earlier this year, a younger peregrine displaced the long-standing male and father of the new chicks, leaving the eggs exposed to the cold for several hours and at risk of failing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Chris Greenwood, trustee of Sheffield Bird Study Group, said he wasn\u2019t sure the eggs were going to hatch in the nest which is located on the roof of St George\u2019s Church. This is part of the university campus and has been home to peregrines since 2012.<\/p>\n The birds were initially attracted to the building due to the ledges and decorations on the roof, which emulate the shapes of their native cliffs and crags.<\/p>\n Mr Greenwood said: \u201cWhether you\u2019re a person or an animal, if your partner gets chucked out and someone else takes their place, that would be traumatic to some degree.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen nature declines so much, I think it\u2019s a really good thing to have. It educates people, it gives them a bit of comfort and it engages them with nature.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n