Fantastic footage shows University of Leeds’s newly-hatched peregrine falcon chicks in nest

Four peregrine falcon chicks have hatched in the nest on the University of Leeds Parkinson Tower on Woodhouse Lane.

Hatching took place between Wednesday 29 April and Friday 1 May, following the start of hatching at around 04:00 BST on 29 April.

Four eggs were laid on 21, 23, 26 and 28 March 2026. Peregrine chicks typically begin to fledge around 35 days after hatching and become fully independent after a couple of months.

The peregrines have nested intermittently on the Parkinson Tower since 2018 and are monitored by the University’s Sustainability Service. The public can follow their progress via live webcams.

Over the years, multiple chicks have successfully hatched and fledged, with some later identified establishing territories elsewhere in Yorkshire, including Bradford.

Peregrine falcons are the world’s fastest animals, capable of diving at speeds of over 200mph. Although they have a green UK conservation status, they remain legally protected and face ongoing risks in the wild.

Michael Howroyd, Biodiversity Programme Lead in the Sustainability Service, said: “I think the reason the peregrines capture so much attention is that they bring the outside inside. They give people the chance for a moment of connection with nature in the middle of their day.

“The peregrines are a brilliant reminder of how important biodiversity is on our campus. It shows how carefully designed urban spaces can allow wildlife to thrive. Since they arrived in 2018 they’ve generated huge excitement, not just among staff and students but well beyond the University, with people across Leeds and the wider region tuning in to follow their story. Creating those moments of connection with nature is an important part of what we’re trying to do through our work on sustainability and biodiversity.”