The Tower of London has welcomed a new brood of raven chicks for the first time since 1989.
Proud parents Huginn and Munnin saw their four healthy chicks begin to hatch on St George’s Day, and have had their hands – or wings – full ever since.
As hatchlings, each chick was around 8cm tall, but in just three weeks they have more than quadrupled in size, now standing at 30cm.
Despite only being babies, their diet consists of quail, mice and rats, fed to them by Ravenmaster Chris Skaife.
The Yeoman warder has worked with the birds for 13 years and said he feels like a ‘proud father’ looking after the new additions.
Huginn and Muninn first arrived at the Tower in late 2018, and wasted no time in making themselves at home.
Chris added: ‘My suspicions were first piqued that we might have a chance of baby chicks when the parents built a huge nest suddenly overnight and then almost immediately the female bird started to sit on it.
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‘Then on the 23 April I noticed the birds going to the nest with food, however it has only been this week that I’ve been able to get up close and see for myself that they have four healthy chicks, as I hadn’t wanted to disturb them too much.
‘Having worked with the ravens here at the Tower for the last 13 years and getting to know each of them, I feel like a proud father!’
One of the chicks will stay at the Tower and join the adults when it gets a bit bigger this summer.
Having begun to hatch on St George’s Day, that chick will be named either George or Georgina.
There are currently seven ravens that call the Tower of London their home.
Legend has it that if there were less than six ravens in the Tower, the kingdom would fall.
