Three peregrine falcon eggs on campus – on to the next one

For anyone struggling to find Easter eggs this weekend, here’s a special tip. A pair of peregrine falcons has built a nest in the Architecture Tower. There are already three eggs in it, but who knows – there might be more in the coming days. “Here’s to the next one,” says peregrine falcon manager Henk Drevijn.

The first egg was laid last Saturday. Since then, two more have been added. “On average, there’s a gap of about two to three days between eggs being laid,” explains Henk Drevijn. “And a clutch often consists of four eggs.” Drevijn started out as a building manager, but his access badge now reads ‘peregrine falcon manager’. A title he wears with pride: “I think it’s such a special bird, a truly wonderful symbol for the Faculty of Architecture.”

The peregrine falcon isn’t sitting on the nest all the time at the moment. “Only once all the eggs have been laid does the actual brooding begin,” says Drevijn. “That way, all the eggs hatch at roughly the same time.” It takes about a month for the eggs to hatch, and another 40 days until the young peregrine falcons are big enough to make their first flight.

Want to share in the joy of the peregrine falcon? You can follow the developments day and night on various webcams. A warning from Drevijn with the upcoming exam week in mind: “Be warned, it can be addictive!”