#180

─ Egg Laid & Hatched Date 2025 ─
10/04🥚🥚🥚❌
10/01🥚🥚❌
09/29🥚→11/5🐣

GENERAL INFORMATION This site is about a family of peregrine falcons using a nest box since 2008 in a water tower at Charles Sturt University, Orange, Australia. The female is Diamoすnd (aged at least 12) and the new male (aged about one year) is called Gimbir (hard 'g' Gim-bear). The name came about by accident as I thought Gimbir was the Wiradjuri word for 'spring' (the season), but in fact it's 'spring' or 'fountain' (water), but we liked it, so kept it, anyway.

NB He cannot be Diamond's son as she has no surviving offspring of that age.

The previous male, Xavier, disappeared on 27/8 and is assumed dead, probably from a hunting accident. He had been with Diamond since 2016 and is sorely missed. More information can be found below the chat rules.

NEWS 5th September 2025
Our new male has brought the first prey to the box and given it to Diamond. It's pretty big, very well prepared, so hard to identify, but could be a pigeon (which would be very welcome).

He has also been successfully bonding with Diamond and attempting to mate with her, but she hasn't been receptive yet. At this stage, it seem unlikely that we will eggs this year, but it's far from impossible.

─ Respect to a great live show ─

Video courtesy of FalconCam Project
   / @falconcamproject  

Box Camera - FalconCam Project LIVE
https://www.youtube.com/live/yv2RtoIM...

Ledge Camera -FalconCam Project LIVE
https://www.youtube.com/live/YIXDnrSl...

Nest camera - FalconCam Project LIVE
https://www.youtube.com/live/Xj1Y6ydR...

Tower Cam - FalconCam Project LIVE
https://www.youtube.com/live/_GbhU8HT...

This site is about a family of peregrine falcons using a nest box in a water tower at Charles Sturt Unversity, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.

The first research paper on observations at this site was published by me in the journal Corella. It is available on the website: https://falconcam.csu.edu.au/2023/10/...

DONATIONS FalconCam is funded through donations and these can be made via the CSU shop https://falcon.shop.csu.edu.au/
However, donations are currently not needed as we have sufficient funds. Thanks for your generosity

Links The blog and website can be accessed here: https://science-health.csu.edu.au/fal...

History The birds have been observed using the tower (a working water tower) since 2007 and have been breeding in the boxes since 2008, averaging 2.8 eggs per clutch and 1.5 fledgings per season.

The parents' names are Diamond (female) and Xavier (male). Diamond replaced an older swift in 2015, and Xavier replaced Bula in 2016 (Bula replaced the first male, Beau, in 2015). Xavier arrived just as the eggs were hatching, feeding Diamond and the three chicks and saving the season. Assuming they were at least 2 years old when they arrived, Diamond is at least 11 years old and Xavier is 9 years old (2024).

Males are 15-20% smaller than females, have less breast spots, and have brighter yellowish-orange talons and beaks. The birds do not migrate, and courtship rituals and nest building continue throughout the year, becoming more active in July and August when the males bring food. Eggs are usually laid in late August, chicks hatch in early October, and fledge in mid-November. The young birds stay until March, learning how to hunt from their parents, and often visit tower nests, so there's plenty to see outside the main breeding season. One male juvenile stayed until August the following year, when its parents took a hint by blocking the entrance to the box.

More information on research? Contact Principal Investigator Cilla Kinross at [email protected]

🎞Video Capture & Editing by @BirdParenting
   • 🇦🇺🦅FalconCam Project 2025  
   • 🇦🇺🦅FalconCam Project 2024  

I would like to express our respect and gratitude to "FalconCam Project" for providing us with such a precious and wonderful scene live❤️

🍀🪺Thank you for watching🐣🍀