VIDEO: Just one more week to wait for the peregrine chicks
Chichester Cathedral is preparing to welcome four new fluffy residents in the next week.
This year's batch of peregrine falcon eggs are expected to hatch within the next seven days high up in the cathedral's clock tower.
The cathedral is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the peregrine family.
Last year more than 10,000 people visited the cathedral and 27,000 more logged on to see a webcam and watch the famous pair hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach their young how to fly.
David Mowlam from the cathedral said: "We are expecting the same numbers of people again this year, particularly as it looks like lots of people will be staying to holiday in Britain this year.
"The peregrines provide an added dimension to what visitors can see at the cathedral. They have become part of its charm."
Mr Mowlam said visitors were already bringing along their binoculars in anticipation of the new arrivals.
The four chicks are expected to have hatched by Friday, April 24. The following day the RSPB will begin to beam live footage from the peregrines' nest to a television viewing area available in Cloisters Caf.
In June, telescopes will be installed within the cathedral grounds for visitors to get a closer look at the chicks before they fledge their nest.
Melanie Durkin, 37, from Chichester is an RSPB volunteer who checks up on the eggs. She said: "The female is still sitting on the eggs, so it's fairly quiet at this stage.
"She's still being extremely protective over the eggs although there has been the odd occasion over the past few weeks when she's let the male sit on them. This only happens when he brings fresh food for her to eat and even then she won't go more than 100 yards away.
"It's at chick stage when it will be interesting. Last year, she let him feed the chicks when they were still white fluffy things, barely a week old."
Since arriving in Chichester in 2002, the parent peregrines have brought up 26 youngsters.
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Weather for Chichester
Monday 28 May 2012
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