Other Peregrine Projects > Australian Peregrines
NSW - Charles Sturt University - 2018 / Xavier & Diamond
burdi:
So far, there hasn’t been any serious fighting here, however, the friendly intruder situation appears to be interfering with food delivery for Diamond, so whatever will happen if chicks are in the nest remains to be seen.
I believe Xavier brings prey to the nest only when he feels it is safe because when the intruder is sitting on the ledge or somewhere near the nest, he stays away. Also, Cilla mentioned she thinks the intruder was sitting on the roof of the water tower while she was outside the university one day.
burdi:
Is TG a relative?
Published 14 September, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
In-breeding appears to be not that uncommon in peregrines. Tina Callender (one of our cam watchers) sent me some details of some studies in the UK strongly suggesting siblings helping to raise another brood, and later mating with his mother. BBC – Nature UK: Peregrines are keeping it in the family…
And in the states, it has been demonstrated that some 4% of the peregrine population are closely related. This often leads to a problem in populations, abnormalities etc. but apparently not (at least, not yet) in peregrines.
I don’t know of any similar studies in Australia, but will endeavour to find out. Not much in HANZAB (Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds), although I did read that fledged young have been known to reside in parental territory (less used parts) for up to nine months. This bird intruder is clearly more than nine months’ old, however. Juveniles get their adult plumage by the end of their second year.
It’s going to be interesting to see what happens when the chicks emerge in about a week. Will this new bird, relative or not, be helpful? If you listen to the audio on this video (mp4), you can hear some peregrine carry-on just before TG appears and I’m wondering if this is a very early morning spat with Xavier. It has been noticed that he has brought in less food (although today he managed what I think was a small white pigeon) and that could be a problem if he starts interfering with their routine. Hungry mouths need more than one feed a day.
Have a lovely weekend. Cilla
Video by Cilla:20180914-0454-Intruder-q (mp4)
Click here to go directly to entire update by Cilla Kinross.
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
burdi:
Menage a trois?
Published 7 September, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
Our intruder, nick-named TG (transgender, because I was having difficulty with his gender) had been making regular appearances and, for some reason, after initial hissing and scuffling, Diamond at least seems to accept him. I now think it’s a he based on colour of feet and eyes, lack of spots on chest, food-bringing behaviour and size (slightly bigger than Xavier, but quite a bit smaller than Diamond).
It’s speculation, of course, as none of our birds are banded (could not get animal ethics’ approval), but it’s possible that it is one of Diamond’s sons from a couple of years ago, called ‘Vim’ (short for viminalis, one of the local eucalypts). I have no idea how an adult would recognise offspring, however, as the plumage is now quite different. If anyone has any insight into longterm maternal behaviour, I’d love to know.
Video by Cilla: 20180904 0514 TG and Di (avi format)
TG on ledge – photo by Helios
TG with Diamond in the nest
I think that the earliest date for hatching is 19th September, but more likely 21-22 September.
Have a lovely weekend.
Cilla
Click here to go directly to entire update by Cilla Kinross.
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
Alison:
Thank you so much for your updates on this nest, burdi! I hope everything has been resolved peacefully with the potential intruder? The cams are barely working from where I am, mainly running on hang-and-spin.
burdi:
Such drama!
Published 31 August, 2018 | By Cilla Kinross
FIRST, there was some rather strong evidence of pair bonding, right on the ledge.
Still in love
THEn, the third egg appeared at about 11 pm on 24th August. No dramas there, but seemed a bit of a strain. They are really quite big eggs for such a small bottom.
The male, Xavier, had no problem covering all three eggs, although he’s clearly not a very big male. This was brought into focus when a male intruder arrived, one noticeably larger than Xavier. At first he came and had a look and got a really frosty reception from Diamond, who ‘keened’ and screamed at him. He then came later with prey, but she ignored him (starling is not her favourite food, so this was not a good start).. and he left.
And this morning there might been a ‘scuffle’ just outside the box. You can just see the peregrine trying to land, but he is thwarted for some reason and there was a lot of angry noises about.
Youtube is very busy if you want to chat (especially on the nest cam). I’ll update this weekly until hatching (three weeks), then more often. Cilla
Click here to go directly to entire update by Cilla Kinross.
Courtesy of FalconCam Project
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