1 November 2026
Greetings Everyone,
I just caught this post by Victor Hurley, the Peregrine Falcon researcher in Melbourne.
Good morning Falcon Watchers,
I have been concerned for a little while now that one of the larger nestlings has been looking a bit off colour and not feeding adequately. Diagnoses from this distance is always challenging. From what I have seen both at this site and other urban sites it appears as if this one has a Trichomoniasis infection. This is a contagious disease that attacks the mouth, crop and oesophagus. It occurs in a range of bird species with adult pigeons and doves often acting as resistant, sub-clinical carriers. Its transmission to young Peregrines in the nest is through direct contact via being fed infected prey.
The rules at this site are that we do not interfere. These are wild birds in an urban environment. No correspondence will be entered into on this matter.
P.S. it is unlikely that this one will transmit it to the other siblings. The adults could bring in further infected prey and those too could become infected. Only time will tell.
P.S.S. I could be wrong and it is bird flu. How this one is presenting seems much more typical of Trich and not Bird Flu. However, bird flu presents differently and faster acting leading to death.
P.S.S.S. Yes this will be fatal.”
Let us hope that this does not spread to the others. Sadly, we have seen Trichiminosis at this nest in earlier years.
Thank you to Dr Hurley and to the owners of the streaming cam at 367 Collins Street.