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Peregrine falcon chicks named by local families

Maisie Lillywhite
BBC News, Gloucestershire
Tewkesbury Abbey Three side-by-side images of baby peregrine falcons. They are grey and very fluffy with darker faces and beaks and yellowy grey claws. Each of them has a blue ring around one leg with two initials on it - their names before they were named - CD, CF and CM.Tewkesbury Abbey
The three chicks (L-R Eleanor, Flash and Fluff) were born at Tewkesbury Abbey earlier this month

Three peregrine falcon chicks have been named after suggestions from people living near the abbey where they were born.

A nesting box on the side of Tewkesbury Abbey's tower has been home to mating pair Christopher Robin and Bella for several years and recently welcomed the three "big fluffy balls of fur", Helen Wolfson, from the abbey, said.

Tewkesbury residents submitted names for the chicks - one girl and two boys - at a nature event at the abbey on Saturday.

The names - Eleanor, Flash and Fluff - were pulled out of two hats on BBC Radio Gloucestershire's breakfast show on Tuesday.

The chicks hatched three-and-a-half weeks ago, and were ringed and weighed by Gloucestershire Raptor Group.

The weight of the chicks determined their sexes, with one known to be a girl as it was heavier than the other two, Ms Wolfson said.

Prior to being named, they were known as CD, CF, and CM, as per the initials on the rings around their ankles.

"They're big fluffy balls of fur at the moment, they're just starting to get their feathers," Ms Wolfson said.

"You can stand at the end of the abbey towards the town, near Gander Lane, and see the chicks sticking their heads over.

"They're starting to orientate themselves and find out what's around in the world."

Tewkesbury Abbey, a large church, stands on a very green, cut lawn which has a couple of trees on it. There is a grey, cloudy sky above it with a few patches of sunlight illuminating some clouds.
Peregrines have been nesting at Tewkesbury Abbey for 15 years

Ms Wolfson said that "lots and lots of names" were collected when 120 people visited Tewkesbury Abbey on Saturday to see the falcons.

She added that peregrines, which are the fastest animal on the planet and can reach speeds of 200mph (322km/h), have been nesting at the abbey since 2010.

"They want to be at the abbey, so the nest box is put up there to keep them safe when they are nesting and so they can fledge their chicks safely," Ms Wolfson said.

"We're looking forward to seeing three more peregrines flying around in the coming weeks."

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