Other Peregrine Projects > Australian Peregrines
NSW - Charles Sturt University - 2018 / Xavier & Diamond
burdi:
Wild weather and milestones
Published 14 December, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
We had a very wet week, which was a great relief for this district due to looming bushfire season. There was 61 mm in my rain gauge over the four days, about a month’s worth. Bad news for the cherry orchardists, who always seem to get rain or hail just before harvest.
Here is short video of the storm we had yesterday, which was really quite wild. All four birds have been seen since, I hasten to add.
VIDEO OF STORM: https://youtu.be/Y7xl-oYrANM
and a nice one of Diamond arriving after the storm, wringing wet with punk hairdo.
VIDEO OF DIAMOND, AFTER STORM. https://youtu.be/8jjP3t6CDlY
Meanwhile the youngsters, whilst still honing their skills on cicadas, who are still deafening the campus with their high decibel (90-95) calls, appear to be finally moving onto vertebrate prey. Here we see one of the juveniles (we think Budhin) with a small passerine, that I’ve so far failed to identify. Of course, it is possible that this prey was handed (?) to Budhin by one of the parents, but I have a strong suspicion this was his own catch.
VIDEO OF JUVENILE WITH PREY: https://youtu.be/aWCSi35u-gY
There has been considerable discussion about which juvenile is which and I agree that it is pretty hard. Although there is a clear difference in size between the youngsters when you see them together on a tree outside, when they come to the box (separately), the differences are not that apparent. One is as big as Xavier (Budhin) and appears to have a slightly more ragged tail band, and one is slightly bigger (Gaama) with a smoother tail band. Neither are as big as Diamond, however, making me a bit suspicious of whether we in fact have a female – they should be larger at this age. Your comments are welcome!
Sorry I don’t have any stills. I’ve either been without the 4Wd, or without my camera, or it was pouring with rain. So here is a fairy-wren. This was taken on the lawn just below the tower. He’s fairly safe as they are tiny, but we do know falcons will take them for a snack! the males are very territorial and faithful to their several wives. The wives, on the hand, are little hussies, often sneaking off to mate with a more colourful neighbour, and then creeping back at dawn to their reliable, if duller, provider!
Superb fairy-wren, male
Link to this update by Cilla Kinross
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
burdi:
Hot weekend
Published 10 December, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
Orange sizzled over the weekend, with 30 C plus temperatures. The birds are continuing to feast on the cicadas and I think that it’s pretty good training for them, although I’d like to think they are also chasing larger prey by now.
Here is Budhin chasing out Xavier, while clutching a little invertebrate treat:
Video: https://youtu.be/VCwJ5zgfL2c
And another, which I think is more likely to be Gaama. Both juveniles are actually quite small and tricky to tell apart, although Gaama does appear to be a little bigger than Xavier.
Video: https://youtu.be/uVBP-6rfNcM
But it’s not all about insects. Here Xavier is bringing in a bird prey (unidentified at this stage, but quite small). Diamond assumes it is for her, but, alas, our Xavier is back to his old tricks and takes off with it again. To be fair, it’s probably a training tool for the juveniles and she’s perfectly capable of catching her own prey at this time of year! Every night we see her come back to the box with a very full crop, so she’s not missing out.
Video: https://youtu.be/mYxOFkBH81E
Let’s hope the birds take care as there is rain forecast for the next few days, as well as thunderstorms daily. This can make hunting dangerous, especially for inexperienced birds – and it might make it a bit harder for me to do updates, but I’ll do what I can.
Incidentally, I was sent an interesting article on how people who watch webcams react when nature takes a nasty turn eg through siblicide (when youngsters fight etc.). It’s worth a read. I’ll add the link in a comment below, and it’s on the Google hangout. We don’t really interfere on this site, but we’ve never really needed to. The only action I’ve needed to take was to collect birds that have ended up in appropriate places (eg car parks) after fledging as these are man-made obstacles. I put them in a tree and the parents always find them again. I did feel sorry for our old, lame female Swift a few years ago and slipped her a galah or two when she was at her weakest (she leapt on them with gusto), but that was an exceptional circumstance (perhaps!). I never interfere with hatching problems. I’m concerned the birds might abandon the nest.
I’ll leave you while I’m watching the sky darkening; could rain tonight I think.
Link to this update by Cilla Kinross
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
burdi:
Crispy snack time
Published 3 December, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
Some of the peregrine juveniles, plus Dad have been helping themselves to the current explosion of cicadas on campus. Easy pickings. Here is Dad with his catch:
Video: https://youtu.be/dVt4F572tTk
Both juveniles have been visiting the box over the weekend, mostly whilst in hot pursuit of a parent. It is not known yet whether either has caught their own prey yet, although at least cicadas are a start. But I would expect them to be hunting very soon. Here the young male, Budhin is chasing Diamond.
On Saturday, we had the delightful sight of an Australian mapgie, flying down in a stoop, probably from the top of the water tower. Perhaps he had been watching our peregrines!
And here is the original – Xavier, we think
Xavier is always keen to start preparations for next year. Little does he know that I will ruin all his good work when I clean the box in the New Year!
Video: https://youtu.be/HiN0xUHMTAw
Forecast is for fine all week – good think as we are all making hay this week. I’ll be going down later this afternoon to see if I can catch the youngsters in their roost tree home.
Link to entire update by Cilla Kinross
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
burdi:
Juveniles late afternoon
Published 27 November, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
Some pictures from a trip around the campus yesterday afternoon: Mostly Budhin (and Budhin’s rear end). Where the two birds are in the tree together, Gaama is on top and Gaama is also in the bottom three pictures on branches. You can see the water tower behind the trees to get an idea of the distance. These trees are called yellow box, Eucalyptus melliodora and are probably 300 plus years and now dying. They need replacement, but it may not be easy in this location.
Eucalyptus melliodora - tower in background
Gaama (upper branch) - Budhin (lower branch)
Juvenile on roof of tower
Link to entire update by Cilla Kinross
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
burdi:
Both juveniles visit the nest
Published 26 November, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
Over the weekend and this morning, both juveniles have paid visits to the nest, as well as being sighted in and around their roost trees. They are getting harder to photograph in the field as they have become more wary of my vehicle or person, but I have some from the box.
As you’ve probably gathered, I have a Youtube account now, so you can go back and check on previous videos if you cannot find them here or on the google hangout.
The juveniles are getting to be large and strong – and very cheeky. I originally thought this was Budhin, but when I look at the image from the ledge, I think it’s actually Gamma. Anyway, this bird is giving their mother, Diamond a hard time.
VIDEO https://youtu.be/eUJ8UxCn25k
And another view of this altercation:
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VosPtkPELaE
We had a visit from a juvenile starling. A big rash, considering how often this species ends up as dinner.
VIDEO https://youtu.be/8K3epPNW3d4
Hello, anyone home? I think I’m lost!
I expect the youngsters to start spending a bit more time further from the nest and the roost trees, so it might be a bit harder for me to catch up with them, but I will do mybest. Last year, the male left the district after only 3 or 4 weeks (or at least I couldn’t find him), but the female stayed around until late January.
Link to entire update by Cilla Kinross
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
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