Peregrine falcons were once considered a threatened species, and while their numbers have recovered since the 1970s, they are still an uncommon sight.

So when staff members at Charles Sturt University's Orange campus in NSW noticed a pair of the raptors taking an interest in the campus grounds, they built a residence for them.

They constructed a nesting box in a tall water tower with the birds' safety in mind, down to non-toxic screws.

The box was fitted with CCTV cameras, to study the home life of these powerful birds of prey.

This week saw three new arrivals into the nest, with the FalconCam catching the close-up view of peregrine falcons hatching.

Since 2007, a number of peregrine falcons have made the makeshift nesting box their home. ( Supplied: FalconCam Project )

Adjunct lecturer in environment management Dr Cilla Kinross said for the last eight years two cameras have revealed the nesting habits of the fastest animal on the planet.

"The ability to be able to watch them 24 hours a day is pretty unusual," she said.

"People have had to sit up in the cold and wet cliff tops, up trees and things to observe their behaviour."

The nesting box was built at the top of a water tower on the campus. ( ABC News )

The FalconCam is the only peregrine falcon nest camera in Australia.

Since 2007, the cameras have seen nine birds successfully fledged, countless unlucky casualties brought into the nest, and the odd encounter with an unwanted visitor.

Scott Banks from the FalconCam project said five successful breeding seasons had been observed, and some less successful ones.

"We've been having a few intrusions from the likes of cockatoos," he said.

"It's interesting to watch the cockatoos versus peregrines.

"We had a bad year when none of the eggs hatched, and then last year we had the single chick who unfortunately we lost in a very big storm one day."

Hungry peregrine chicks put parents through their paces

Three hungry peregrine falcon chicks have been keeping their parents busy this week. ( Supplied: FalconCam Project )

This year a new breeding pair have moved in, named Diamond and Bula by staff and students at the university.

They have carried on the tradition, hatching three new chicks this week.

Dr Kinross said the hungry chicks have been keeping their parent very busy catching starlings and on the odd occasion, a galah.

"I think their preferred food is actually galah ... nice and plump, tasty, colourful, looks good on the plate," she said.

"But they have been known to take quite big birds, I believe they've been known to take an ibis."

But she said Bula, the male, took a while to learn his role in the relationship.

"He'd worked out that he was supposed to bring the food back to the box, but then he wouldn't give it to the female," Dr Kinross said.

"He'd fly off with it again. But he's learnt to do that now so he now brings the food in and then she takes it and goes."

Researchers form strong bond with feathered friends

Mr Banks said it was hard not to become attached to the birds after spending so much time monitoring them.

Dr Cilla Kinross and Ron Green from the FalconCam Project, working on the nesting box. ( Suppled: FalconCam Project )

"You get to know the youngsters, they stay with us from the hatching through about 40 days in the box," he said.

"They then fledge, but they stay in the area for three or four months."

Peregrines are fearsome hunters, and once targeted, prey find them very hard to outrun.

"They go into a stoop and they fly down very fast - over 300 kilometres per hour in some cases," Dr Kinross said.

"They usually hit the prey with their clenched claws very hard and fast usually on the wing."

The water tower was the chosen site for the project because Dr Kinross noticed that the peregrines were using it as a launching pad for unsuspecting starlings and pigeons.

"They have a very good view from the top," she said.

"It occurred to me that being a window in the water tower, it's possible they might use a ledge if we put a ledge there."

Staff at the university are using the FalconCam to collect information about peregrines in Australia for a research database.