A BROOD of rare peregrine falcon chicks have started to fly the nest after surviving “against all odds” on a water tower.

A pair of the protected birds set up home on Bournemouth Water’s tower in New Milton in 2017 and, since then, they have produced three broods of chicks.

However, in April the male peregrine falcon went missing shortly after his mate started incubating this year’s eggs.

At first it was feared that even if the eggs hatched successfully, the chicks would die as the female falcon struggled to both keep the chicks warm and hunt enough food for her and her brood.

But in May two eggs hatched, and both chicks – known as eyeasses – have survived. They are already nearly as big as their mother and have started to venture out of the nesting box on their own. Last week they were ringed so they can be identified, and soon they will fly the nest completely.

Saska McGrath, Bournemouth Water’s climate change manager, said: “There have been more than a few anxious moments over the last couple of months. Many people have been willing the female falcon and her chicks to survive.

“There aren’t that many recorded breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in Hampshire, so while we’re very sad that our adult male has gone missing it’s great news that two more chicks will join the peregrine population.”

There are only 20 recorded breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in Hampshire and 1700 throughout the UK.

Keith Betton, chairman of the Hampshire Ornithological Society, first noticed the pair of peregrines on the tower in September 2016.

Keith, along with Joanna Hayward from New Milton Town Council, contacted Bournemouth Water to see what could be done to assist the birds and encourage them to nest on the 30 metre-high octagonal tower.

Saska worked with Keith and Joanna to work out the best place to install a nesting box to encourage the peregrines to breed.

The water tower is still operational and it was decided to place a box in the turret to encourage the birds to nest in an undisturbed part of the tower. A nesting box was provided by Falconry Solutions and installed by Bournemouth Water in February 2017. To the delight of all involved the peregrines started using the box that April.

In 2017 the pair produced three chicks and returned in 2018 to hatch another three.

Keith said: “What an amazing female she is, rearing the chicks against all odds. We are sad that her partner has vanished. He was six years old. However, a new male has been turning up recently so hopefully our female will accept him as a partner.”

To observe the chicks by web cam click here.

Incubation of peregrine falcon chicks takes 29-32 days and is shared by both parents. Brooding and feeding is carried out in the first two weeks by the female, while the male hunts in the air to catch prey (often pigeons), sometimes stooping at speeds of around 200mph.

The chicks fledge after 35-42 days and are independent two months later.