A microbat escaped Gimbir in spectacular fashion at the FalconCam nest in Orange, New South Wales, on August 31, turning what looked like another successful prey delivery into a brief chase through the evening sky.
Watch Live → CSU FalconCam Project nest and read community discussion.
Gimbir arrived at the nest box carrying the tiny bat, an unusual catch for the peregrines living high in the Charles Sturt University water tower.
For a moment, the hunt appeared to be over.
The bat had other ideas.
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Microbat escapes Gimbir and takes off from the tower
Once inside the nest box, the microbat managed to get free.
Gimbir reacted almost immediately and took off after it.
The escape becomes even more interesting from the tower view. The bat is tiny against the surrounding landscape, but look closely and it can just be seen flying away from the tower before veering off toward the left.
Gimbir followed.
The pursuit did not last long. Rather than continue the chase, he gave up and turned back toward the tower.
The bat had escaped.
And waiting for Gimbir back at the nest was a very vocal Diamond.
Diamond has plenty to say when Gimbir returns
Gimbir came back without the prey he had carried into the box only moments earlier.
Diamond greeted him with loud, persistent calls, and the pair moved into another bout of pair-bonding.
It was perhaps a little more enthusiastic on Diamond’s side than Gimbir’s.
Still, the interaction continued a pattern that has become increasingly important as August draws to a close. Food deliveries, bowing, calls and work around the nest scrape have all been building as Diamond and Gimbir move deeper into the 2026 breeding season.
The Charles Sturt FalconCam Project identifies prey deliveries and other behavior as part of its long-running study of the peregrines at the Orange water tower. The nest box sits about 35 metres above the ground, with several cameras covering the box, ledge and surrounding tower.
Bat prey has been extremely unusual at FalconCam
The microbat escape from Gimbir is an unusual encounter.
According to FalconCam records, only four bats had previously been identified as prey since 2012, and those earlier catches were made in the very early morning.
Gimbir’s latest bat appeared at the nest at about 6:12 p.m.
There may have been other bats over the years that could not be identified, particularly if they were eaten elsewhere on the tower rather than brought into the box. Peregrines can prey on microbats, but birds make up the great majority of their diet in Australia.
That makes getting such a clear look at one being brought into the FalconCam nest unusual enough.
Watching it escape is another matter entirely.
Gimbir has been showing off his hunting skills all month
The microbat escape also adds another prey species to what has been a busy August for Gimbir.
On August 4, he appeared on the antenna with unidentified black prey. Another dark prey item arrived on August 12. Three days later came a swallow, followed by an Eastern Rosella breakfast for Diamond on August 16.
Then came the remarkable run on August 26, when Gimbir delivered five food gifts in a single day, including an Eastern Rosella and a crested pigeon. Diamond was also working the nest scrape as the pair entered the period when her first egg could arrive.
Two days later, another delivery involved a starling.
Now Gimbir can add a microbat to the month’s hunting activity, although this one did not stay on the menu for long.
The wait for Diamond’s first egg continues
The timing makes the pair-bonding at the end of the bat chase worth watching too.
Diamond is now at the point in the season when her first egg could arrive at any time. Recent food gifts from Gimbir, repeated pair-bonding and Diamond’s attention to the gravel scrape are all behaviors associated with the breeding period.
So August ends in Orange with one tiny bat making a remarkable escape, Gimbir adding another chapter to a busy month of hunting and Diamond still keeping everyone waiting.
The next surprise at the FalconCam nest may be sitting beneath her.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the microbat escape from Gimbir?
Yes. Gimbir brought the bat to the nest box, but it managed to escape. Gimbir chased it away from the tower before abandoning the pursuit and returning to Diamond.
Do peregrine falcons eat bats?
They can. Peregrines primarily hunt birds, but small mammals including microbats are also documented prey in Australia.
How unusual are bats at the Orange FalconCam nest?
Very unusual. FalconCam records list only four earlier bat prey items since 2012, and the falcons caught all four in the very early morning.
When could Diamond lay her first egg?
Diamond is now inside the period when egg laying normally begins at the Orange nest. Recent courtship, food gifts and scrape preparation mean the wait for egg #1 is well underway. Your August 27 update also documented five prey gifts from Gimbir while Diamond worked the scrape.
Where is the FalconCam nest?
Diamond and Gimbir use a nest box inside an active water tower at Charles Sturt University’s Orange campus in New South Wales. The box is about 35 metres above the ground.