A pair of peregrine falcons nesting on the roof of Ealing Hospital are incubating four eggs, with chicks expected to hatch by the end of April.
The birds — named Dusty and Freddie after two of Ealing’s most notable musical connections — have returned to the London North West University Healthcare Trust site for a fourth consecutive breeding season. Dusty Springfield lived in Ealing and attended St Anne’s Convent School (now Ealing Fields High School), while Freddie Mercury studied at Ealing Art College (now the University of West London).
Ealing Wildlife Group (EWG), which monitors the pair, confirmed earlier this week that the falcons are now incubating four eggs. The falcons have been nesting on a ledge on the hospital’s tenth floor since 2021, after EWG installed a gravel tray to encourage them to settle.
Since then, Dusty and Freddie have raised seven chicks and become local favourites, drawing interest from residents and online viewers alike.
Urban structures like the hospital provide ideal substitutes for the high cliff ledges peregrines naturally prefer. Once in sharp decline across the UK, the species has made a strong comeback in urban areas thanks to legal protections and focused conservation efforts.
The nest is live-streamed 24 hours a day on EWG’s YouTube channel, with a 12-hour rewind feature for those keen to catch up on the action.
View the live stream here
