FalconCam Project ~ Gimbir Brings Prey & STASHES At Stones! Diamond Finds & Happily Squeals! 1.14.26

Gimbir comes to the box with small prey early in the morning & he stashes it on the stones. He looks back over his shoulder at his stash and then he flies off for the day. Mid Afternoon, Gimbir returns to the box and checks on his stash - still there! He leaves it for Diamond and he takes off. Diamond comes to the box two minutes later and she sees the prey on the stones. She goes over and picks up Gimbir's stash and she squeals happily and flies off with it to enjoy. Eight minutes later, Diamond returns to the box to rest and get out of the rain. Looks like she enjoyed the lunch snack!

Girri has been seen on the tower but not today so far. She is most likely staying put taking shelter from the rain. Thank you for watching!

Video captured & edited by Lady Hawk

Courtesy of FalconCam Project Charles Sturt University, Orange, 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  
Tower Cam Link:    • Tower Cam - FalconCam Project LIVE  

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📌 Diamond lays egg #1 09:02:16am Sept 29 2025 -hatched Nov 5th
📌 Diamond lays egg #2 20:38:06pm Oct 1st 2025
📌 Diamond lays egg #3 07:33:45am Oct 4th 2025
📌 1st egg hatches 13:01pm Nov 5th - Named Girri
📌 Two eggs non viable no hatch
📌 Girri fledges Dec 18th 2025 - 43 days old

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. 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.

HISTORY

The female is Diamond (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. He's the 'fountain' of youth!

The previous male, Xavier, disappeared on 27/8/25 and is assumed dead. He had been with Diamond since 2016 and is sorely missed.

Previous history includes: 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 15-20% smaller than the female, has fewer spots on the chest and has brighter yellow-orange 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 mid-November. 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: