Other Peregrine Projects > Australian Peregrines
NSW - Charles Sturt University - 2018 / Xavier & Diamond
burdi:
Juvenile returns home
Published 18 November, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
One of the juveniles, Gaama (the female) I think, based on the size compared to the adults, who were doing a lovely dancing courtship just before she arrived. Here are the links
Video, parents courting and juvenile arriving (ledge cam) https://youtu.be/KwVOhxUB4Pg
Video: parents courting and juvenile (nest cam) https://youtu.be/aAgIBzcbGYc
Video: juvenile leaving https://youtu.be/XNKGsuOSZyA
And a couple from Friday night, while I was watching flight training
Diamond - on the left ... and (Cilla thinks) this is Budhin - on the rightHow beautifully they posed for Cilla!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Let’s hope we get a few more visits!
Direct link to this entire update by Cilla Kinross
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
Alison:
--- Quote from: burdi on November 16, 2018, 14:22 ---
I’ve been watching the chicks flying between the roost tree and the top of the tower every afternoon. They are both flying really well and there is no reason why they shouldn’t visit the box. But sometimes they don’t come back. There doesn’t seem to be any reason why or why not. Usually they come in looking for leftovers, but they might be so well fed, there is no need.
--- End quote ---
Thank you for posting the updates and pics, burdi! It's great to see the fledglings doing so well.
At least one of the fledglings has now made it back to the nest box, and is at the nest right now! Can't tell which one.
burdi:
Nice sunset photo in this update. :)
Flight training
Published 16 November, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
I’ve been watching the chicks flying between the roost tree and the top of the tower every afternoon. They are both flying really well and there is no reason why they shouldn’t visit the box. But sometimes they don’t come back. There doesn’t seem to be any reason why or why not. Usually they come in looking for leftovers, but they might be so well fed, there is no need.
These photos were from yesterday afternoon and evening. Have a lovely weekend everyone. Cilla
Diamond, landing
All four in tree at sunset
Click here to go directly to entire update which includes more photos by Cilla Kinross.
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
burdi:
Decamped to roost tree
Published 12 November, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
The family spent a few days on the water tower – with no juveniles accessing the scrape – before moving holus bolus to the a small copse of trees in paddock just out of sight of the ledge cam – just up and to the left a bit. They have used these trees for roosting and flight training in previous years, but usually they spend a few days or up to a week in the trees opposite the tower. This year stage has almost been by-passed!
The photos show Budhin, Gaama, Gaama, Gaama in her tree, all three (left to right: Xavier, Budhin and Diamond) in the dead roost tree, Xavier, and three of Diamond (two in flight, not the greatest pictures, I’m afraid).
Gaama near roost tree
Budhin on branch of roost tree
Gaama in her tree
Xavier, Budhin and Diamond in dead roost tree
I think they will now spend a week or so between these trees and the tower, while building their flight skills. The parents will hunt and then drop the prey to give the youngsters practice at catching prey in the air before starting to hunt themselves. They don’t seem that interested in hunting yet. I watched potential prey birds come and go at will from their roost tree yesterday (when these photos were taken).
This is quite a dangerous time for juveniles. Collisions with power lines and trees are not unknown. We had one youngster hit a tree while chasing prey and hurt her leg. This apparently healed itself according to a witness, although I still have my doubts about that…. They will also get more aggressive to humans (particularly me!). They will also start to move further afield as their skills increase, but I think we will have the pleasure of their company for a while yet. And they could still visit the nest box (they usually do), often chasing a parent with prey. Our box is not a particularly easy target for landing, however (compared to the top of the tower, or a tree, for instance).
Here is a video of a changover of adults in the box very early this morning (Xavier arrives and leaves, Diamond arrives), followed by juveniles apparently chasing Xavier (you’ll have to look hard, as they are very small!).
https://youtu.be/oslrZQfzQzc
I’ll be out and about most afternoons on foot with my camera to try and get some photos. Diamond is not at all happy with this approach, so my visits have to be short for this reason.
I’ll update this site every couple of days or so, unless there is something dramatic. The live youtube stream is still busy with chat and I’m updating the google hangout as well.
I haven’t included all of Cilla’s photos, but you can click here to go directly to this update.
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
carly:
Wonderful news! Thanks for sharing that!
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