At 125 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Milanese skyline, the fourth chick of the peregrine falcons Giò and Giulia was also born. The hatching, which took place at 10.07am, was followed live by thousands of people connected to the webcams installed on the roof of the Pirelli skyscraper. With this event, the 2026 hatch is definitively completed, once again transforming the Pirellone into one of the most observed urban nests in Europe.
From the first to the third: the births of the previous days
The journey towards the complete family had begun in the previous days. The first two chicks were born on April 6th, a few hours apart, followed by the third hatching on April 8th. A natural rhythm that marked the wait of the fans, glued to the screens to witness the small movements in the nest. The arrival of the fourth falcon closed the circle, confirming the perfect success of the breeding season.
A story that began in 2014
Giò and Giulia are now real stars of the web and of Milan. The pair of peregrine falcons chose Pirellone as their home in 2014, during some maintenance work. Since then it has returned punctually every year, transforming the roof of the skyscraper into a stable habitat. With the four births in 2026, the total number of falcons that have come to light rises to 35 specimens, a figure that tells of the continuity and success of this urban nest as well as the extraordinary ability of wildlife to adapt to nature, which demonstrates its ability to find space even among skyscrapers.
Now the toto-names start to decide what to call them
Their names are a tribute to the architect Gio Ponti and Giulia Vimercati, linked to the history of the building that houses the nursery. And, speaking of names, with the birth of the fourth chick another long-awaited tradition also begins: the choice of names for the new falcons. Like every year, the citizens and the community that follows the webcams will propose and vote on the names of the little ones. Totonomi has become a very popular participatory event, capable of involving thousands of people. After the hatching of the first, second and third chicks, the arrival of the last born now makes it possible to assign an identity to the entire 2026 brood.
Life in the nursery and next steps
In the next few days, however, the priority will be the growth of the little ones. The mother Giulia will stay in the nest to ensure warmth and protection, while Giò will take care of the hunting and feeding. This phase is fundamental for the development of plumage and thermoregulation, elements necessary to face another decisive moment: the first flight expected between 40 and 45 days.
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