Other Peregrine Projects > Australian Peregrines
NSW - Charles Sturt University - 2017 / Xavier & Diamond
burdi:
Update - Rainy day, late feed
Published 20 October, 2017 | By Cilla Kinross
We had a good (and much-needed) downpour last night, which gradually petered out during the day and the sky was almost pink again by the time I got to work this evening.
The consequence of this was a rather hungry morning, with no prey being brought in until nearly noon, when a very wet Diamond arrived with a welcome pigeon – introduced species based on the white feathers and pink legs and huge size.
A welcome pigeon for lunch
During the afternoon, more pigeons were brought in (or was it the same pigeon several times – I can’t be sure!). At one time, Xavier brought in what I swear must have been Diamond’s pigeon (or what remained of it). I don’t Xavier caught anything all day….. Eventually both chicks became extremely full and couldn’t cram any more in, so the parents got a feed as well.
Chicks are getting some juvenile plumage coming through and are a little more independent, although still sprawl together when sleeping. And Marragaay has started feeding him/her self from the scraps in the box. I always think of this as a bit of a milestone and start recording all times when they feed themselves, as opposed to just being fed.
The forecast promises to be fine for our landcare event this weekend, so I’ll probably not check in again until Monday. Have a lovely weekend.
Source: http://www.gumtreecs.com.au/wordpress/rainy-day-late-feed/
burdi:
I just watched Cilla’s “20171019 Mr Creosote” video and it was very cute to see each chick take a turn at intently watching the other - probably trying to figure each other out! Marragaay was interested in learning to eat while Bali was more interested in wing exercising. :)
burdi:
Update - Well fed chicks getting adventurous
Published 19 October, 2017 | By Cilla Kinross
Although Marragaay is getting really well fed, Bali is not doing too badly – and at least he’s not eating himself sick. Marragaay reminds me of Mr. Creosote in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (this might not mean much to the Americans, apologies) and I hope he doesn’t blow himself up.
At least one very well fed chick
After a few tentative steps a few days ago, the chicks (especially Bali – Marragaay can only roll about!) are starting to get a bit more adventurous, even creeping close to the ledge and Bali has been doing some wing-flapping.
Hello, what’s out there?
Neither Diamond nor Xavier is spending much time keeping the chicks warm now that the weather has improved, although there is quite a bit of rain forecast for today and tomorrow, which might change things and make it harder to get prey.
I’ve noticed that Diamond hardly ever brings in starlings, although she will feed them to the chicks if there’s nothing better. Her preferences go to rosellas, galahs and other larger birds – she caught a red wattlebird yesterday (a large honeyeater). The prey is getting easier to identify as there is less preparation now, but I’m still not sure what the large white bird was (feathers seen in top photos). Possibly a sulphur-creasted cockatoo, which would be appropriate revenge for the orgies that the cockies sometimes hold in the box during winter, even chasing the male out of the box!
I’m tied up with full-day meetings, landcare etc. over the next three days and it will be difficult to keep you updated (and I’ll get horribly behind again). And a lot changes in three days. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to the software at home – it’s very restricted because of the tie-in with the university location and security situation. Many thanks to other Scylla for helping out in this respect. It’s very much appreciated. Let’s hope the streaming cams don’t keep blacking out. so she can use her screen-capture software. I assume that’s similar to what Arjen was using last year.
Source: http://www.gumtreecs.com.au/wordpress/well-fed-chicks-getting-adventurous/
I haven't included the "Mr Creosote" video, but you can download it from the above link and check it out! I also haven’t included all photo content.
burdi:
Update - Family supper
Published 17 October, 2017 | By Cilla Kinross
Peace reigns in our falcon family. Apologies to those fretting about our chicks – it was just overzealous feeding and a chuck-up, after all. No nastiness at all (except chucking over your sibling’s back, which is a bit disgusting…)
Here we have a scene where Xavier had brought in a small prey after long drought and started feeding chicks. Then Diamond trumped him with (I think) an eastern rosella. She took over the feeding, so X started eating his remnants. Then he thought he should help out, but Di nicked his prey and thwarted him!
Diamond takes over the evening feed with a superior prey
VIDEO 20171016 family supper
This happened last night. I’m not making that mistake again (ie jumping ahead with no history or context)! But I should catch up tomorrow. Have to leave…Amadeus beckons.
Source: http://www.gumtreecs.com.au/wordpress/family-supper/
You will find the short "family supper" video in the above link.
burdi:
Cilla provided a few comments explaining why she thought there was sibling aggression, so I felt it would be helpful to post them.
Cilla Kinross says:
16 October, 2017 at 1:41 pm
I’ve had messages from other falcon-watchers that it is quite common for one bird to vomit on another, so perhaps that’s all it was, but it was very blood-coloured vomit if that’s the case. It does seem odd that Bali didn’t resist or try and move away at all.
Cilla Kinross says:
16 October, 2017 at 4:52 pm
Mea culpa. This is why I normally don’t do updates until I’ve caught up; but that’s almost impossible at the moment.
Now I’ve had a chance to go through the afternoon recordings, I can see what has happened. At 1802, Diamond brought in a large, fat pigeon and stuffed this into the chicks, mostly Marragaay, Bali barely getting a look in, although Di had her back to us, so can’t be sure. THEN, just over 16 minutes later, Xavier brought in a starling bit and Di fed them again. That resulted just over 40 minutes feeding in under an hour.
They, or at least Marragaay, was so stuffed, he/she could barely sit. At 1905, five minutes after last feed finished, up it all came all over Bali’s back, and of course it looked just like blood because it was, just not Bali’s, thank goodness.
Cilla Kinross says:
16 October, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Now I’m not so sure again as I noticed a large mark on Bali’s back early this morning, which appears to be a wound with drying blood. Seems unlikely that M’s chuck-up would still be there!
Cilla Kinross says:
17 October, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Now all clear, so definitely a false alarm. I actually saw Diamond eat the vomit, disgusting girl. My apologies for misdiagnosis.
Source: http://www.gumtreecs.com.au/wordpress/sibling-agression/
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version