Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia has welcomed the first peregrine falcon chick of the season, which hatched on Sunday afternoon in a nest high within one of the basilica’s iconic towers. This new arrival continues a successful reintroduction project for the species in the Catalan capital.

The female falcon initially laid four eggs in mid-March, but one disappeared by the end of the month. Basilica officials explained the loss could be due to “a crack in the shell, morphological anomalies, or lack of fertilisation”. She then incubated the remaining three eggs for nearly a month before the first chick emerged.

Two more eggs are still expected to hatch in the coming days, according to Official Sagrada Familia Website. Last year, three chicks were born in the same nest, with two successfully surviving to adulthood.

Barcelona’s Falcon Reintroduction

Peregrine falcons have nested at the Sagrada Familia for over two decades, a key part of a reintroduction initiative. The Barcelona City Council (Ajuntament de Barcelona) and the Galanthus Natura organisation launched this project in 1991, according to Barcelona Peregrine Falcon reintroduction project. Their aim was to bring the species back to the Catalan capital.

Experts selected the Sagrada Familia as an ideal location. It served as one of the last refuges where peregrine falcons bred in Barcelona before their disappearance. An adult pair established themselves in one of the towers in 2003, and chicks have been born there consistently since then.

Monitoring and Public Engagement

The City Council and the Sagrada Familia signed an agreement in 2022 to promote the project’s continuity and public awareness. As part of this collaboration, the City Council and the Sagrada Familia installed a live camera in the nest in 2024. This allows the public to observe the breeding process directly.

The camera currently shows the male peregrine falcon bringing food, primarily small birds, to the female. She uses this to feed herself and the newly hatched chick. Previously, the camera captured the female incubating the three eggs day and night, occasionally leaving the nest.

This ongoing success highlights Barcelona’s commitment to urban biodiversity. It offers residents and visitors a unique opportunity to witness nature’s resilience within the city’s most iconic landmark.

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Originally published by 20 Minutos Barcelona. Read original article.