Today started with sadness learning that Garrama had to be euthanized because of his spine deformity two days after he fledged. But today turned into a day of happiness to see Yira the oldest chick fledge at 43 days old!

Yira gave us some cute selfies as she got right up in front of the cam! Was that her goodbye to us all? She winged and flapped around the box and even gave the side a good kick before tracking something and then with purpose and strength she took her first flight! It was a beautiful flight as she flew southeast and then turned back around towards the campus. Both Diamond and Xavier saw her fledge and flew off after her. Diamond returned moments later to the box and found a nestover and then flew off with it probably to take to Yira!

Congratulations Yira on your successful fledge today! You carry your brother in spirit now and we are proud to see you flying strong! We carry Garrama in our hearts and we celebrate Yira's maiden flight today! Thank you for watching!

Highlights of fledge
04:44 Box cam view of Yira fledge
06:22 Ledge view of fledge
06:39 Tower view of fledge

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1ST HATCH: Oct 4th 2024 00:24:12
2nd HATCH: Oct 5th 2024 05:34"35
Egg#3 is nonviable
Garrama fledges at 39 days old Nov 13th 2024
Garrama euthanized due to a deformed spine & inability to fly Nov 15th 2024
Yira fledges at 43 days old Nov 16th 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION:
This is a research project through Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales Australia, studying the diet and use of a nest box of a family of peregrines living in water tower since 2007. We now have nine years' worth of diet and seven years of behaviour data The cams go right through the year and are in daily use.

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 1520% smaller than the female, has fewer spots on the chest and has brighter yelloworange 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 midNovember. 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.
#falconCam #OrangeCSUfalcons #OrangeAustraliaFalcons #PeregrineFalcons #CSUorangeperegrinefalcons

Courtesy of Falcon Project Orange NSW Australia. Many thanks to Cilla Kinross, principal researcher at CSU.

   / falconcamproject  

Box Cam link: https://www.youtube.com/live/yv2RtoIMNzA
Ledge Cam link:    • Ledge Camera FalconCam Project LIVE