Lifetime Lab staff were on hand to help free a Peregrine Falcon that was trapped inside our Victorian Chimney located in the courtyard. The falcon became trapped after flying down the one metre wide chimney stack but could not spread its wings wide enough to travel back up the 33 metre stack.

The 33m chimney stack at at Lifetime Lab where the falcon got trapped.

The falcon is a regular visitor to Lifetime Lab and uses the chimney as an observation post to survey potential prey.

The escape route created in the grill at the base of the Lifetime Lab chimney

Peregrine Falcon checks all is clear

Falcon takes flight from Lifetime Lab chimney

Peregrine in full flight heading towards the Lee

Falcon Facts

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the Peregrine,and historically as the "Duck Hawk" in North America[, is a cosmopolitan bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is a large, crow-sized falcon, with a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache". It can reach speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph) in a stoop,making it one of the fastest creatures on the planet

Name Derivation: The scientific name comes from the Latin words falco, meaning hook-shaped (falcate) and may refer to the beak or claws, and peregrinus, meaning to wander. Peregrines have also been called Duck Hawk, Great-footed Hawk, and Wandering Falcon.

Measurements: The Peregrine Falcon has a body length of 15 - 20 inches, a 3 1/2 foot wingspan, and weighs 1 1/4 - 2 3/4 pounds.

Habitat: Peregrine Falcons have adapted to living in many cities. Cities offer tall buildings with ledges for nesting, water sources, large populations of pigeons and starlings for food, and have few natural predators.