This site is about a family of peregrine falcons using a nest box in a water tower at Charles Sturt Unversity, Orange, New South Wales, Australia. The adult female is Diamond and the male is Xavier.

NEWS 21st December
A female 'floater' or unpaired falcon made herself unwelcome today, even following Xavier into the box.. He had to exit hurriedly when she wouldn't leave.

[ Ссылка ]

Unfortunately, it would seem that Yira must have had a flying accident or mishap as she hasn't been observed for over two weeks.

Sadly, Garrama (the only other fledgeling, male) was euthanased at Taronga Western Plains Zoo after X rays showed he had been born with a severely deformed spine.

Fledge (Garrama) at 1126 13th November
Fledge (Yira) at 0735 16th November

Hatch # 1 at 0024 h, 4th October
Hatch # 2 at 0535 h, 5th October

The third egg failed to hatch; it is probably unfertilised as has happened before.

*The names were selected based on your choices. The are Wiradjuri words for 'sharp' (Yira) and 'hunter' (Garrama).

EGG LAYING 2024

Egg # 1 at 1208 h, 27/8
Egg # 2 at 2357 h, 29/8 gap 60 hour
Egg # 3 at 1012 h 1/9 gap 58 hour


RESOURCES

Myfirst research paper on observations from this site has been published in the journal Corella. Available on the website: [ Ссылка ]

DONATIONS FalconCam is funded through donations and these can be made via the CSU shop [ Ссылка ]. However, donations are currently not needed as we have sufficient funds. Thanks for your generosity

LINKS
BLOG and WEBSITE can be accessed here: [ Ссылка ]

OTHER CAMS and VIDEOS can be accessed via this address:
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GENERAL INFORMATION This is a project studying the diet and use of a nest box of a family of peregrines since 2007. The cams go right through the year and are in daily use. More information can be found below the chat rules.

CHAT RULES
To keep the chat open, pleasant and useful, we have a few rules. Those flouting the rules will be warned and could be blocked by moderators (mods, with blue spanners). Inappropriate comments will be deleted.

1. Chat should be about this site, but significant events from other Australian sites can be posted without discussion. Out of the breeding season some chat about other birds is acceptable if not prolonged.
2. Use English in this chat. If you do not speak English, there are on-line translators available.
3. Do not criticize people’s attempts to write in English.
4. Do not ask for donations (except for this site), discuss politics or religion, advertise other sites or products (including videos), use obscene language or hate speech.
5. Avoid using panic language if you see something unusual and remember this is a wildlife project with limited interference by the project team.
6. Respect each others' opinions, even if you do not agree. Do not be rude or get into arguments with other chatters.
7. If a rule is broken and no mod is present, do not engage; simply refer people to the chat rules if you wish.
8. Remember mods are humans, too. Please respect their decisions.
9. Use emojis and symbols (e.g. !) sparingly: only one emoji per post, please. Don't use ALL CAPS as it sounds as if you are shouting.

HISTORY The birds have been observed using the tower (a working water tower) since 2007, breeding in the box since 2008, with an average of 2.8 eggs per clutch and 1.5 fledges per season.

The parents' names are Diamond (female) and Xavier (male). Diamond took over from the older Swift in 2015 and Xavier replaced Bula in 2016 (who in turn replaced our first male, Beau, in 2015). Xavier arrived just as the eggs were hatching and saved the season by providing for Diamond and her three chicks. Assuming that they were at least two years old when they arrived, Diamond is at least eleven years old and Xavier nine (in 2024).

The male is 15-20% smaller than the female, has fewer spots on the chest and has brighter yellow-orange talons and beak. The birds do not migrate and courtship rituals and some scrape (nest) building continues throughout the year, intensifying, along with food bringing by the male, in July and August. Eggs are laid usually in late August, with chicks hatching in early October and fledging in mid-November. The youngsters often stay around as late as March being taught to hunt by their parents, and often visiting the nest in the tower, so there is much to watch even out of the main breeding season. One male juvenile stayed until August the following year when his parents blocked his entrance to the box and he took the hint.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESEARCH?
Contact the principal researcher Cilla Kinross on ckinross@csu.edu.au

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