How two rare kestrel chicks were saved from a seven-storey fall

This is the incredible moment tree surgeons reunited two kestrel chicks with their parents - after they were abseiled back down an Edwardian cotton mill to their nest. The two rare birds of prey chicks were found on the ground at Pear Mill, in Bredbury, near Stockport, Greater Manchester, on 24th June.

The pair had fallen over the edge of a seven-storey nesting platform at Pear Mill, with one found near the foot of the building by RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Stephen Wickham. The other was collected by Tameside's People 4 Wildlife. The RSPCA was eager to return the chicks to their nest - but access to the seventh story nesting spot was tricky, so they contacted Nathan Sherrat and Dave Elliot from Marple-based Lakeside Tree Care.

And after agreeing to help, the next morning they abseiled about 98-feet (30 metres) over the grade-II listed 1913 building carrying the five-week-old chicks in a bag.

The kestrels are believed to have taken over the nest from peregrine falcons which have bred on the site for many years.

Stephen said: "It's not a very big platform and the chicks were almost ready to fly. They were most likely fluttering around on the top before tumbling over the edge.

"Being light and fluffy they would have had their wings open and floated slowly down to the ground.

"As soon as Nathan emptied the bag into the nest they both flew away, which was lovely to see, and I noticed mum watching them from nearby.

"We think another two fledglings had already left the platform so it was a successful outcome for them all.

"During the spring and summer months, it's very common to find baby birds on the ground and our advice is to try and keep pets away from them and monitor the fledgling as the parents are usually nearby and feeding the bird.

"However, baby birds of prey on the ground won't be fed by their parents and need help, the only exception being tawny owlets.

"So in this case it was necessary to intervene and we're really grateful to Nathan and Dave and Tameside's People 4 Wildlife for working with us to help these birds. It's a great advert for what we can achieve together for animal welfare.

Mr Sherrat said it was the first time they had been involved in a rescue involving kestrel chicks.

He said: "We've been up trees plenty of times to rescue cats and retrieve things like model planes but we've never dealt with birds of prey before, so this one was a little unusual but we were very happy to help."