With only a couple of days left before fledging is attempted by all three eyases we’re preparing the catcher’s mitt in case of accidents. All three are now growing in confidence to hang their heads over the ledge and indeed one this morning was sitting on the ledge, facing inwards. Frustration through lack of real movement is growing, but this larger eyrie is proving itself more valuable than gold as it’s giving them some space to run, jump, fly and generally annoy each other with the occasional wing in the eye, as well as their own dark corners when they want privacy.

A personal space thing

As you can see from the above sometimes close company becomes a little overbearing and they all need their own space for a short while. At the same time they’re still all quite happy to sidle up to each other when snoozing. We’re not sure if someone has said something the others didn’t agree with here but they’ll remain good friends!

Incidentally the presentation that Cilla and I gave at the Nguluway indigenous staff conference here at Orange campus yesterday afternoon went down very well, with good interest shown and some worthy questions. We thought we may have to burst a few balloons to keep everyone awake but they weren’t needed! We all then went outside for a look up at the tower ledge window from the  grass beneath and were treated to a nervous calling display from Swift up on her feeding branch in the trees.  Great bunch of people and thanks once more to Catherine for inviting us along to spread the birdie wordie! it’s been suggested that we may upload the pdf slide presentation to the website once it’s polished up. Stay tuned.

As a nasty thunderstorm rolls in across Orange three nervous 35/33-day old eyases stand guard at the ledge watching the water stuff fall from the dark sky. When all seems lost for another feed before it sets in Swift arrived with sustenance. With hunger over-ruling manners the tug o’ war began and all four birds wound up in a fierce but not at all aggressive battle for food; amusing at the same time, but it’s all in seriousness. The tug o’ war video clip can be viewed here …

Three feathery sentinels

With Swift on the ledge the three ever-boisterous eyases have had their “mad minute” this afternoon, attempting high-speed sprints, aerial manoeuvres and the odd suicidal dive towards the ledge. At one point one of them would’ve gone straight out if it weren’t for Swift’s rapid intervention. It seems this is how the world average fledging remains at a low 1.5 count;  might be time for us to put out some catch nets!! The nest camera is no longer out of pecking range and a short time later it came under intense physical scrutiny but it held up well and won’t need readjustment this time. The smaller Byng seems to prefer to keep out of these moments, but even he has shown some zing at times too. The video clip of these three funny clowns can be viewed here … We’ll be watching these closely from now on, with backpack and towel ready

Thundery weather is on its way for Orange this afternoon …

Every day we look in to the world of these peregrines and they’re growing up ever so fast now. With only about a week left before fledging they’re building up wing strength and take-off speed, running up and down the roost gaining height with every pass. Fortunately they all seem to be aware that changing the direction of the intended flight path to include the ledge isn’t such a clever thing and generally they stay away from that north-south runway at the moment.

This week, Wednesday afternoon, we’re giving a presentation here at Orange campus to the Nguluway indigenous staff conference – thanks heaps to Catherine Maxwell for inviting us to speak and for allowing us to show off our favourite feathered family. Lots to cram in to a relatively short period of time but I’m sure most attendees will have a better understanding of these amazing birds and their relevance to the local biodiversity (let alone importance worldwide).

Also keep an eye out for news about next week’s all-morning BBQ breakfast courtesy of our colleagues at the Nature Conservation Trust, starring Beau, Swift and the three ever-growing truants! All-comers welcome to join us down at the NCT cottage opposite the main CSU gate. With some luck the fledglings won’t do what Solo did last year and take off for 5 days before returning! It’s the same day our friends at 30 Squadron Beaufighter Association are coming to see us too; a busy week ahead for all.

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.

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 here, with Narrambla (the larger of the three) staring on with nonchalant curiosity.

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!…

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!

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 – a dry run by Swift (audio), and madness with 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 can be viewed here – first, second, third…

Smile for the camera?

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. The 4-minute video clip can be viewed here …

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!) …

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!

Waiting ...

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!

With tummies growing and bodies increasing in strength the three eyases are now able to walk around on their feet and have made the most of the space provided with this larger box. Often there’ll be a single face on screen while the other two hide behind the camera window. Rest assured at feeding time all three appear and all are in fine health. At different times over the weekend and today Swift has spent longer away from home and indeed Beau has partaken of the odd feeding time himself but already he’s being dwarfed by his three charges, which opens up the betting lines that we may possibly have three female eyases this time? Time will tell, early days still. There’s also a little interest in the outside world now, with the odd curious face getting closer to the ledge.

A couple more video clips from today can now be viewed. Patiently waiting,  Swift and the kids, and the bone-carrier.

In a maintenance climb of the Concrete Hilton this evening the opportunity was taken to film Swift feeding her three wobblies (they’ve gone past being bobblies!) with the handheld camera. The ledge camera was slightly adjusted and nest camera checked but the main reason for the maintenance climb was to shift the audio module up much closer to the eyrie itself. Mission accomplished and it will take a few days to adjust the correct volume, now that it’s just on the other side of the wall instead of hanging 2 metres below the action. Wiring was cleaned up and structural fittings were checked for health. And all done with the perfect timing of the din of rumbling sound as the tower refilled with water. With the combination of the noise, along with Swift’s concentration in feeding three urgent mouths, the moment worked out well.  The full colour video clip can be viewed here …

To give you an idea of size and height, which is quite deceiving in these pictures, the three eyases are already standing tall at about 240-250mm (9-10 inches). That horizontal line across the middle of the back wall (see nest camera images) is about 200mm (8 inches) high and is the bottom of the opening end hatch. All three juniors are taller than that line when stretching for attention or food. You’ll also notice the first signs of wing and tail feathers. Our favourite little bobble-heads are growing up too fast!

As the 3 eyases head towards their 19th & 17th days respectively they’re spending much more time shuffling around the eyrie, inspecting the odd loose feather and visiting each other, and of course there’s always lots of time for sleeping after big feeds. Swift seems to be content in keeping a vigil on the ledge, and not long ago Beau treated us to another of his high-flying displays above campus, gaining height in the warm day’s thermals. With a little cloud cover today it’s bringing out the true peregrine (sp macropus) colours in camera shots and video clips.

Two video clips here of Swift and two of the three eyases shuffling and busying themselves – first clip, second clip …

After an initial ‘step-grandparent-style’ scary moment this morning we went back over the archives and realised that there’s no need to panic by only seeing one or two eyases on screen, with either parent in attendance. It seems there may have been a domestic, or someone’s messed the scrape, because all three littlies went on big new adventures this morning and two seem to have decided to go rest at the other end of the eyrie, which of course would have to be the corner that we have no visual coverage. Three ample meals so far this morning so no-one’s going hungry, but Swift & Beau are in a quandary now as to which end of the box they go to and whether they need to mediate any disagreements, or bring a cleaning cloth in!

Beau looking perplexed

A 5-minute video clip of Swift and the kids going for a walk can be viewed here …  Apologies for the video quality; it’s a temporary fix for what will soon become HD picture when the new camera is fitted soon.