These births occur at a time of intense activity at the temple, which recently completed the installation of the upper arm of the cross on the Jesus Tower. While public attention was focused on the architectural works, a pair of peregrine falcons, regular residents of the basilica for twenty years, welcomed their new offspring.
The chicks were born a few days ago in the nest located in the temple's towers, with a third expected soon. The life of this raptor family can be followed live thanks to a camera installed in the nest, which streams on YouTube. Recently, one of the parents was observed feeding the two new members.
The basilica was selected as one of the ideal places to reintroduce the species because it was one of the last refuges where these birds bred before disappearing from the city.
The Sagrada Familia nest is part of the peregrine falcon reintroduction project, an initiative promoted by the Barcelona City Council and Galanthus Natura in 1999. The basilica was chosen for its historical importance as a breeding ground for these birds before their disappearance from the city.
Currently, Barcelona has eight breeding pairs of falcons. Since the project's inception, 250 chicks have been born in the city, 56 of which have hatched in the towers of the Sagrada Familia. The peregrine falcon is an emblematic species and a key indicator of urban environmental quality, contributing to the complexity of food webs by primarily feeding on pigeons.
