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Post-Mortems Confirm Poisoning of Two Worcester Cathedral Peregrine Chicks

The cathedral has reported the findings to authorities for inclusion in the British Trust for Ornithology’s annual record.

Overview

  • All three chicks from the 2025 brood died between May 6 and May 15, prompting the suspension of the cathedral’s livestream.
  • Laboratory tests on two recovered carcasses found death from ingesting poison, though the source of the toxin remains unknown.
  • Local volunteers retrieved the bodies for analysis and the cathedral notified relevant agencies, with the deaths to be logged by the BTO.
  • West Mercia Police say they received a report on October 20 and have closed the case due to evidential difficulties after consulting the RSPB.
  • The adult pair, Peggy and Peter, continue to be seen in good health as attention to urban peregrines grows following incidents such as the egg-crushing at St Albans Cathedral in April.