/ falconcamproject  

"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.

NEWS 6th October
Hatch # 1 at 0024 h, 4th October
Hatch # 2 at 0535 h, 5th October

Video of highlights from second hatch and feed:    • FalconCam 2024 10 05 2nd hatch and fe...  

Both nestlings are strong and healthy, able to hold their heads up high and are eating well. I will provide a link to the poll for choosing names on Monday 7th.

No pips on third egg as yet. This pair has only hatched two young since their pairing in 2016 (Diamond produced three with Bula), so the third egg may not hatch this year. A late hatching is still possible, however.

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

The first research paper on observations from this site has been published by myself in the journal Corella. Available on the website: https://falconcam.csu.edu.au/2023/10/...

DONATIONS FalconCam is funded through donations and these can be made via the CSU shop https://falcon.shop.csu.edu.au. However, donations are currently not needed as we have sufficient funds. Thanks for your generosity

LINKS
BLOG and WEBSITE can be accessed here: https://science-health.csu.edu.au/fal...

OTHER CAMS and VIDEOS can be accessed via this address:
   / falconcampr.  .

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 [email protected]"