SINGAPORE – The 24-hour YouTube live stream that allowed members of the public to watch chicks from Singapore’s only known breeding pair of peregrine falcons has come to an end, now that all three surviving chicks have fledged.

The last chick to take flight was last sighted at its nesting grounds at the OCBC Centre at 6.45am on April 8, and likely flew off later that morning, said Dr Malcolm Soh, principal researcher for wildlife management research at the National Parks Board (NParks).

He added the team will continue to monitor the chicks’ progress through sightings in the area and the Bluetooth tracker attached to one of the chicks.

Dr Soh previously told The Straits Times that the other two chicks will be fitted with a tracker only if there is an opportunity to retrieve them, such as when the bird is found stuck on the ground. 

Analysis of the environmental DNA (eDNA) samples retrieved from the nest is also ongoing, said Dr Soh. Through eDNA sequencing, researchers can study how the breeding pair sourced their food and identify prey species with greater certainty.

“We are encouraged by the positive response from the community to the peregrine falcon live stream, and will review the feasibility and opportunities for future live streams,” he said.

The falcons were