FEEL FREE TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS BELOW OR IN GREATER DETAIL AT THE RAPTORX FORUM FOR BLACK VULTURES 2016. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN REAL-TIME VULTURE NEST CHAT
If you lose live video (which may occur during camera changes), click on the “play” arrow or refresh your screen by clicking on the circular arrow to the right of the URL line.
The Tri-State VultureCam is up and running for 2017. From the 2010 to the 2013 breeding seasons, 6 chicks hatched and another 3 orphans from other locations fledged for a total of 9 fledglings from this nest site. The nest site was not used by vultures during the 2014 and 2015 breeding seasons, and the adult male, tagged #17 in 2013, has not returned. However, an untagged pair took up residence in late February 2016 resulting in two successful fledgings. An untagged pair took up residence again in early February 2017.
One of our long-term research objectives is to determine whether the same pair tends to occupy the shed year after year or if occupancy changes, possibly resulting from some form of competition or due to disturbing the nest site by tagging adults and/or chicks. Another objective of this multi-generational study is to observe ongoing working relationships between family members from year to year.
As in previous years, we are recording selected video and audio from several cameras, 24/7 for research purposes. However, our computer only streams video to this website from one camera at a time. We try to display the most interesting vulture behavior at any given moment. Sometimes the screen goes black after switching cameras. If this happens, you may be able restore the video by refreshing the webpage (by clicking on the circular arrow near the top center of the webpage for Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers). Known technical difficulties preventing viewing will be reported at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bkvu-test-3. Real-time chat regarding nesting activities is also available at this site. Day-to-day narrative and photos of nesting activity is available at RaptorX Forum for vultures, owls, and eagles
Viewing nesting behavior over the Internet, rather than observing the birds directly, avoids activity near the nest that could lead the adults to abandon it. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO LOCATE THE NEST SITE OR APPROACH IT AS DOING SO COULD RESULT IN DEATH OF THE CHICKS AND THE END OF THIS RESEARCH.
Comments from viewers relating to observations of vulture behavior or suggestions for research are most welcome.
4/10
pip watch day and its 88 degrees at 2:22 pm.
FYI, 6 times eggs have been rolled in the last 3.25 hours.
P seems to be inching the eggs out. Stretching it’s neck out of the corner.
Thank you to the homeowners for allowing them to be there and for sharing them with us. Thank you all who make this possible.
4/10 pip watch!
I have added a few photos on the forum. Since yesterday there is a constant dark spot on one egg that is suspect of perhaps being a pip.
Of course I am wanting it to be so, but also trying to get the best estimated time for the record!
Now it’s back in sync.
Chimneyswift has a 7 second delay behind Ustream?
4/10 pip watch day.
Glorious uncloudy skies. It’s 61 degrees in the nest area. Going to mid 80’s again, then cool seasonal temps return.
As I type, P is preening its back, leaning against the tank. Which means the eggs are moved out of the corner.
One egg roll today at 6:43. Fayeee caught the time.
Rolled eggs at 7:53 a.m. saw two eggs!
4/9 81 degrees at nest area. Warm breezy day.
P left shed for a short while and returned after 13 minutes.
Walked around shed and stood at original nest area where eggs were laid. Returned to eggs and currently is standing over them, back to cam.
On the other hand, heat from eggs, heat from sunshine on black feathers, maybe its time to bring those eggs to a cooler spot. In front of the tank will be good.
Added a couple pretty captures to forum. P had sunshine on face profile.
4/9 8:45a.m. P rolls eggs and lays down after quite a while upright. Extends wing to the ground. Sunlight basks on parents back, sort of a surreal position right now. SO awesome.
4/9 Tuesday 7:41 a.m. Glorious morning.
Unseasonably warm, temp is 59 degrees in the nest area. Temps are expected to be near 80 today and mid eighties tomorrow. Then returning to more seasonal temps.
One week ago my birdbaths were frozen solid in the early morning hours, here in North Delaware.
P has been resting/sleeping upright most times I check, since last evening. Fayeee wrote about midnight P was still and upright over eggs. This morning near 6 a.m. P was laying down, but is upright again. Weather being warm plus eggs develop a lot of heat and energy? Plus, it is close to pip time. Glad they are on a cool dirt floor, last week I would not have considered that thought.
Exciting times and the mind wonders, as we watch so many things are happening, the vibrations and communication between the adult parents and their soon to be chicks.
Lynn, see my earlier post on Tri-State about what is happening now within the egg. Also as I said on Forum, the pip is the beginning of the hatch which usually takes a couple of days. Bob said for this pair historically forty eight hurs, and that is normal. Chicks go through a long, hard struggle to break out. They will be exhausted. Much energy is expended, but there’s just no contaiing them. Hooray.
Been reading about the stages of eggs and these two are about out of the yolk sac stage from what I read.
I never did find a raptor egg chart, since chickens take 21 days I sort of use it as a guideline for a raptor egg and nearly double the progress in comparison to the timing and stages.
??? Question about hatch date and Pip.
Fayeee asks if hatch is due on Wednesday, shouldnt egg pip today?
I assume the same for goes for Thursday? Egg pip may be tomorrow.
It hadn’t occurred to me that the process will take nearly two days to complete. I was counting the hatch only, not pipping time.
Now, I am even more excited.
Twice now the Parent has stood in front of the tank. Possibly considering moving the eggs. We hope.
No riffraff zone. We get playful, but respect the mechanics of it all.
Hey!!! Come on Parents and give us a gift. If they do move the eggs out and it is a recurring thing, wow, wonder what are they thinking. For us to think that they choose and consider options is amazing.
Like your suggestion on SocialStream, Bob, to have Steven Colbert weigh in on names. He is such a publicity hound- good-hearted and good-spirited, I might add, that he would just love that. What he would turn it into would attract way too much attention, I’m afraid, just what he would wish for.
Thanks, Bob. We are all hoping for that. It is interesting to see how casually the departing parent left the eggs propped up on what you call a tank. Wasn’t sure what that is and didn’t know how to refer to it on Forum.
You will note that Lynn and I are very serious birders and lovers of Black Vultures, but we are enjoying a bit of fun now and then.
Last year the eggs were in front of the white tank when they hatched, providing good viewing with the zoom camera. If the adults keep the eggs where there are now, just to the right of the tank, we will have better views after dark, when the infrared light comes on. However, the camera positioned to view them where they are now does not have zoom capability. Here’s hoping the adults roll the eggs back to the front of the tank before they hatch.
4/8 Monday
I still like Bella and Thiol. Maybe Bob can ask the P’s one more time.
Maybe female was sleepy when he asked the first time and she had been dreaming about Stephen. But, upon waking, she liked our chosen names.
Let the parents name their chicks, do you mean Stephen and Colbert?
Okayyy, so next season we will have Bella and Thiol?
Good morning Carol! Oh when I said let “her” know, I was talking about the female P.
A beautiful day in the nest area, warm and midweek temps will approach 80, just in time for hatchings.
Still like Bella, Lynn, and that means “beautiful.” I still say, let’s stay with tradition and let the parents name their chicks.
4/7
11:51 pm, P stands and slightly rolls eggs looking around. Hunkered down, resting well. Beautiful sight.
Stevie can be M/F. Origin of the name Colby means black. The internet is amazing.
Next season, I have dibs on Thiol or Ethyl for the chicks names then, deal? Even though you said Carol and I could do the honors, we know the female P rules the roost! All in jest you know.
Well, social stratification and hierarchy of birds. Tell her I humbly submit, but may refer to them as Stevie and Colby. Being an “Aunt” lol
I am going to have dreams about this, lol. Vultures wearing GPS…
4/7
Temps at nest area going down to 49-50, a nice evening and warmer temps slow but sure as hatch date approaches.
Waited to see eggs rolled but P is hunkered down asleep.