Half of rare OCBC Centre brood lost as NParks monitors remaining fledglings in CBD

Two of four peregrine falcon fledglings from Singapore’s only known breeding pair have died in the Central Business District, casting a shadow over a closely watched nesting season atop OCBC Centre.

Second Chick Found Dead In CBD
On April 16, a peregrine falcon fledgling was found dead on the ground in Singapore’s Central Business District, National Parks Board (NParks) principal researcher Dr Malcolm Soh confirmed on April 22. It is the second chick from the brood to die, following the first fledgling’s death on April 4, also in the CBD. The causes of both deaths are still unknown. All four chicks came from Singapore’s only known breeding pair of peregrine falcons and had been nesting at OCBC Centre in Chulia Street.

Brood Of Four From OCBC Centre Nest
The four falcon chicks, the second recorded brood from this pair, hatched in late February on a ledge at OCBC Centre. They remained at the high-rise nesting site through March, gradually strengthening their wings and attempting short practice flights. Their progress drew strong public interest because confirmed peregrine breeding in Singapore is rare, and this pair represents the country’s only documented nest. The brood left the nest in early April, beginning the most dangerous phase of their development as they learned to fly and hunt in a dense urban landscape.

Livestream Brought Nest Life To Public
NParks and partners set up a 24-hour YouTube livestream in early March, allowing viewers to observe the chicks being fed, preening and making early wing exercises. The stream ended on April 10 after the three surviving fledglings had left the nest. Social media users in the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group had followed the family closely, and concerns about a possible loss surfaced when one member reported being unable to locate a chick despite three days of searching in the CBD.

Rescue, Tagging And Ongoing Monitoring
On April 7, a member of the public found one of the juvenile falcons on the ground, prompting a rescue by NParks. Veterinarians assessed the bird to be in good health and it was released the next day fitted with a Bluetooth tracker so researchers could monitor its movements. Dr Soh said NParks will continue to track the remaining two fledglings via ground sightings around the CBD and the data from the tagged bird. Young peregrines learning to fly in a high-rise environment face risks from building strikes, disorientation and traffic.

Public Asked To Report Grounded Birds
NParks has asked members of the public to contact its Animal Response Centre on 1800-476-1600 if they see any peregrine fledgling on the ground. Early reporting allows officers to secure the area, assess the bird’s condition and, where possible, return it safely to the air. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the fate of this small brood highlights both the fragility of raptor populations in dense cities and the role that citizen reports, technology and urban planning can play in supporting wildlife that chooses to nest amid skyscrapers.

The loss of two peregrine falcon fledglings from Singapore’s only known breeding pair underscores how challenging urban survival can be for young raptors, even when closely monitored. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the episode is a reminder that protecting biodiversity in fast-growing cities requires careful management of tall buildings, informed communities and responsive wildlife agencies so rare species can continue to live and breed alongside people.

Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Yahoo! News Singapore (2026)

Keywords: Peregrine Falcon Chicks, Singapore Only Breeding Pair, OCBC Centre Nest, NParks Monitoring, Bluetooth Tracker, Wildlife Sightings