A pair of seven-week-old peregrines raised concerns that they had disappeared on their first ever flight from the raptors tenth storey home above Ealing Hospital.
The off-spring of parents Dusty and Freddy were on their maiden flight and concerns were raised after reports emerged that one of the raptors had been seen on the ground.
Members of Ealing Wildlife Group came out to help.
Dr Sean McCormack, founder and chair of Ealing Wildlife Group said: “It was a worry because on the ground they are prey to predators like foxes and we just hoped it had enough sense to roost somewhere off the ground overnight.
“Flying is completely new to them at this age and they quickly tire so winging their way back up ten stories is a lot to ask. They’d usually glide down to a lower roof so they would have legroom to take flight again.
“We heard the next day that it had been spotted on the opposite side of the main road sitting on a fence so I went from house to house asking if people had seen it.”
Mr McCormack eventually found the bird which was safely caught and returned home.
The returned peregrine’s brother then appeared shortly afterwards having gone off to explore the rest of the hospital site before hearing his parents call and returning home.
The young birds of prey are expected to remain on the hospital site for another few months where they will learn to fly and hunt before their parents drive them out.
