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Norwich Evening News: The peregrine is one of four chicks (two are now dead) which were born in a nest on the spire of Norwich Cathedral earlier this year. Photo submitted by the Hawk and Owl Trust.The peregrine is one of four chicks (two are now dead) which were born in a nest on the spire of Norwich Cathedral earlier this year. Photo submitted by the Hawk and Owl Trust. (Image: Archant)

That is what the peregrine falcons of Norwich Cathedral demonstrated when they took on a red kite bird of prey one week, and four buzzards the next.

Jan Smith, of the Hawk and Owl Trust, said the birds 'are protective when they have eggs but even more protective when they have chicks'.

And with four fluffy two-week-old chicks, they have everything to fight for.

Male peregrines have a wing span between 89 to 100 centimetres and the females between 104 and 113.

Buzzards have a span of 110 to 130 centimetres and the Red Kite between 140 and 165, making them half as big again compared to male peregrines.

Looking from their watch point on May 12, Ms Smith said four buzzards were seen circling near the peregrines' nest, causing both parents to leave their precious chicks.

'They go off screaming. They are very, very loud. They make a lot of noise and the fly off very fast.'

She added: 'Last week what was even more exciting was the female took on a red kite and made contact with it. It is a large bird of prey and much larger than peregrines.

'It's the first time a red kite has been seen that low. They are not totally unusual in Norfolk but there are not that many of them.'