At the main parish tower

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The newly hatched chicks in the tower of the main parish church of St. Egid in Klagenfurt(Bild: Horst Ragusch)

They are here! The falcon chicks have hatched! And they should soon be strong enough for flight training, as the weather is perfect for hunting field mice, which the falcon parents use to feed their offspring.

Horst Ragusch, a former tower keeper who used to live with the falcons in the St. Egid parish tower in Klagenfurt and who, as an Austria guide and falcon enthusiast, regularly climbs up there, has been waiting for the young to hatch for days.

The falcons have hatched high up in the main parish tower. The little ones probably don't care about the sensational view.(Bild: Horst Ragusch)

Just the fact that the falcons have hatched again fills him with gratitude. "They have an artificial nesting site on the north side of the main parish tower, built and provided by falconer Friedrich Sleik on a voluntary basis. This is above the viewing platform at a height of 50 meters. And that's where the kestrel cows have now hatched!" says Ragusch happily.

The table is set for the kestrel family.(Bild: Horst Ragusch)

In the first few days, the chicks do not yet open their eyes, but after just 32 days they are ready to fledge. "And until then they are well looked after. It's good weather for field mice," says Ragusch.

The parish tower in Klagenfurt is concerned about the offspring: "Make sure none of them get lost!(Bild: Horst Ragusch)

"Falcons can spot a field mouse as prey from a height of 3,000 meters and can reach speeds of over 300 km/h in a dive! Falconids are among the fastest creatures on earth," says the falcon enthusiast, who is always amazed and fascinated.