[Close encounters of the bird kind]

Close encounters of the bird kind

With time on their hands (feet?) and an ever-increasing physical capability Narrambla, Ophir and Byng tend to over-exaggerate and end up pulling some fancy dance and head moves in their spare moments. All three are healthy and well on their way towards fledging. Feedings have been very irregular over the past 2-3 days with generally a couple at sun-up and then the occasional bite during the day. As the weather becomes warmer it’s less likely that prey will be on the wing in the middle of the day.

Moments ago, in an apparent act of frustration, Swift, who had spent a time on top of the tower, chirped out some unusual notes and then turned around and flew off south-east in the direction of the nearby Orange tip where starlings thrive. Time will tell if she’s been successful.

This morning we were lucky enough to be perused back by a couple of the eyases, intrigued by the small, dark gaps around the nest camera (now without the perspex window to aid night time vision). Amusing 5-minute video clips of Byng, and then Byng and Ophir, with Narrambla (the larger of the three) staring on with nonchalant curiosity.

Byng
http://youtu.be/GBQrqT0QNAs

Byng and Ophir
http://youtu.be/gp4Ht1LXgJk

Everchanging eyases


Fancy dance moves


Curious bird


Camera update – the initial testing with our first new HD camera is proving highly successful, giving fantastic image quality, audio and versatility. Our technical advisor, Basil at Lan1, and supplier, Shane at IP Video Solutions, can be thanked for their great support, long-term patience, and enthusiasm for this project. More pats on the back and endorsements for them both soon…


A little of the tower’s commanding view

Just trolling through some archival photos and discovered this photo. It gives you an idea of the usefulness of the water tower, aka Concrete Hilton, for this peregrines family.  It’s 50 metres up and on a hillock, totally secure from predators and vermin, sheltered from most of the elements and direct sun, a relatively even underfloor winter temperature due to the vast volume of water in storage, and as you can see it commands the ideal view over the hunting domain. This is looking south, with Orange city to the front and right hand side, CSU’s own farm in the foreground and to the extreme left is the Orange tip where ‘Dinner A La Starling’ inevitably comes from! Not the sort of window to be hanging out of to clean glass etc but perfect for this family of falcons to take up residence in.

That is very good! 

Great picture!

[Capable and competitive]

Capable and competitive

Today has been an unusual day for food supply – 3 feeds before 8.30am and then a few hours before either adult returned with anything else. Consequently all three eyases have spent the day flexing wings and legs, chasing bones, pulverising feathers, dashing to each end of the eyrie and making the most of any adult attention they can grab. Late in the afternoon more food arrived but rather than chance her luck in carving it up Swift left the eyases to it and they’re busy attacking it! Not so much competitive with each other as just making sure they get their fair share. There’s a growing opinion that one of the eyases is indeed slightly smaller and more timid than the other two, and seems to be a day or so behind in feathers and development – females and  a male?

It’s also been interesting analysing last year’s footage to see at what stage single child Solo was at this same age (hatched 6th October, as did the 3rd chick this season). It appears having siblings around keeps the learning curve steep and the hunger keen.

Waiting with hungry tummies


Videos for today (first video with audio)
Swift and the three eyases

Peregrine eyases in a flap (5 mins)


And the names are…

Thanks to Heather Robinson, Head of Orange campus, for her wise decision-making – we now have names for these three youngsters:-

Narrambla – now a suburb of Orange but as importantly it is the name of the property just outside Orange where famous Australian bush poet, Andrew “Banjo� Paterson, was born in 1864.

Ophir – local regional name; site of the first payable gold strike in Australia in 1851, and only 40 minutes drive from Orange. Discovered by Edward Hargraves, John Lister and the Tom brothers, William and James. The gold town no longer exists.

Byng – local regional name; village near Orange settled by William Tom & family in 1830; a microcosm of European history in the Central Tablelands. Most probably will be given to the smaller of the three eyases (possibly a male).

Thanks very much to everyone who was able to add to the suggestions list. Next year we’ll open it up to all-comers!

 :

[Eyases being eyases]

Eyases being eyases

After a quiet weekend where the three eyases did eyas things up the Concrete Hilton there was a little more activity this afternoon after a brief visit by Swift. All three have been huddled together in their ever-changing attire, with an abundance of feathers appearing and an occasional desire to test their wings. Swift is shying off her attendant duties as it looks like three similarly sized chicks are becoming a little scary in their confined space. She spends most of her time on top of the tower now and only appears when food is present. Only approximately two more weeks left before we re-train our attention to the trees outside.



A triple play of video clips of our boisterous & amusing 27/25 day old eyases

http://youtu.be/hfBRxealv-c

http://youtu.be/xKqJAeNuin4

http://youtu.be/wa2uQ2t8bpw

Great picture of Nona and Squawker!

Wonderful movie! 

[Ponderings with three eyases]

Ponderings with three eyases

It’s been a relatively normal past few days up the Concrete Hilton, with regular feedings, regular attacks on random feathers and wayward big feet, and a more than often absent Swift. She’s been seen enjoying her own “space� around on the microwave dish arm on the side of the tower, and often when she’s cutting up lunch the three chicks take their time before they’re even interested, indicating that food supply is ample at the moment, but also that sleep is favourable!

Here are a couple of video clips taken over the last 2-3 days. Firstly it’s lunchtime, then we watch all three eyases busying thsemvels, and lastly a little post-lunch action. Although we don’t see too much of Beau for too often he’s not entirely off the hook either. Swift often calls for him from atop the tower until he brings food home but then Swift takes over and Beau will leave once more. The eyases are now 24 and 22 days old and are well on their way to the changes that happen as a teenager with feathers appearing everywhere at the moment. They’re standing around 220-240mm (9-10 inches), when they want to. They’ve taken to sleeping just below the nest camera and so quite often the better views are now via the ledge camera; don’t be alarmed if you can’t see any bodies in there!

http://youtu.be/1C2VI-9wEXA

http://youtu.be/Zc9I9kbWY8g

http://youtu.be/GRFAZcq6giA


Post-lunch hyperactivity

After a good feed the three eyases have had another of their high-speed hyperactive moments, with all three chicks showing renewed energy & gusto, making full use of their adequately proportioned facilities. No feather is safe, nor speck of unsoiled gravel left motionless. The moment lasted but 5 minutes but is indicative of what can happen when you feed red cordial to children; maybe fresh starling has a similar effect on peregrines? They’ve all gone to sleep under the nest camera again, but not before some amusing moments.

A couple of bonus video clips here from this afternoon – some close-quarter feeding (almost makes you want to join in, but commonsense, health & wellbeing elect otherwise) and a little youthful peregrine mob activity (we’ve been spotted!)...

http://youtu.be/XtldsS7ro48

http://youtu.be/JniFqiDyG4w

http://youtu.be/QEd2kna4yvo

Welcome at home!

Great video!

 

  That is a BIG bug!

  Great picture!