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.
Thanks to Lynn, Fran, and Abril for all the observations. They are so helpful to me since I am struggling to eke out time from end of semester teaching obligations to do what I truly love.
Shocked about the ‘possum, but perhaps this might explain the level of nervousness shown by the parents over the past few days, perhaps even the use of the original “nesting” area for awhile. Do hope it realizes, in spite of its fierce set of teeth, that this would be a losing battle.
I am really enjoying the bonding and imprinting activities that have been going on over the past few days. I always find it amazing to think that birds really don’t know what they are instinctively and that they must iprint on parents to learn. It’s fascinating to see the little nestling watch a parent so intently. I have posted to Forum one screen shot from this morning that captures that — parent pecking at debris on shed floor with nestling studying it closely.
Fran, there was a spider. Saw the white dot as it traveled in front of camera to the doorway, I saw spiders legs once, but I may have missed a photo. I forgot to check, thanks for mentioning it.
I missed the possum. lol.
Chick was out and about already this morning. Feeding, P left. Chick meanders out of view. Third time I’ve seen the adult dig in the dirt and coax chick back!
At 12:07:53am a white like orb of light appeared on the screen ….just thought I would mention it….kind of strange….did not appear to be an insect. And on that note… I think I will say goodnight…
11:12pm Parent stands up and yawns a couple of times. Chick preens itself a little at 11:15pm. Parent preens chick. Around 11:30pm Parent settles back in but this time leaving chick a little exposed at it’s feet. Glad the opossum went on it’s way witout incidence.
Really? Wow.
I have just seen an Opossum at 9:08 pm. It just entered quite a bit smelling the floor and then turned away. I think the adult did not notice it.
Same thing happened about 8 p.m. Happened earlier in the day too, Parents seem distracted and stood by chick but no feeding and the chick was very still,
At 7:40pm Parent hears something and rushes to front of shed opening. Looks around a bit. Comes back to chick and feeds it. Then settles down with chick again.
Fran,
The chick is getting big, can hardly believe it walked across the floor. Very alert and growing. Thanks for your comments.
I should add that in saying the second time in two days, it is the second time that I am aware of. Seen it today and read about it yesterday. That the male pecked and coaxed the chick out.
Sorry for any confusion.
4/23 4:07 PM
Second adult enters and a very quick food drop to the nesting P. who happens to be the male.
That was awesome. Parent leaves corner, walks out and begins pecking the ground, rubs belly in the dirt, stands, pecks more. This is the second time the male has done this, that the chick soon after came out of the corner.
Chick follows parent around as it walks circles around pecking the ground, rubbing its belly. Appeared to be making a bowl for the chick. As it had done yesterday. Chick is following male, it is so cute. Sunshine shining on chick, it stares, life lesson for sure.
At about 4:32 male lays down and chick crawls under quickly, must be chilly. Chick attempted half dozen times and P did not settle. The chick was walking, it walked around and at one point the male was in the sunshine at the doorway and chick stopped and watched.
4:19pm chick is back in the middle of viewing area in front of tank-sink…..Parent busy pecking at the ground. Chick is preening itself. Gosh it is getting big.
Hi Lynn. On April 21 at 1:38pm I had a chance to see both Parents together briefly and trade places with the chick. I was going on my intuition when I asked if the larger of the two vultures was a female. Now on April 22 at 6:19pm, the camera operator zoomed in on the Parent. Learning from your and Carol’s comment regarding the male and female Vulture, I believed it to be the female parent. Now the zooming in of the camera heped me too…lol. Hope I was right.
In previous nestings, how old were the bv chicks before they were left alone? I wonder if having only one chick, they will raise it any different.
Things can change any day, last season at the turkey vulture nest the Parents began leaving the chicks for overnights at 6 days old. So, the BV have practically doubled that already. Good.
Bob, I was kidding about the moderation of comments. I apologize for taking up time and space.
This is still so fascinating and fun to be apart of it all.
Parents behaviors seem a little different. Features and markings appear somewhat different. But, steadfast and nearly constant care is awesome.
Hi Fran,
I hope your photos arrive in the Visitors Pictures! Smile to myself who the mystery guess it… two legged I have an idea, four legged I have an idea. I love the idea of a mystery visitor.
Glad to be back,looked over my photos and the dates and times you ask about I wasn’t here to compare. Can you explain what you saw and why you asked if it was the female? Sometimes comparing ideas we notice new things, thank you.
Hi Lynn. Thank you for the information that you posted. It was very helpful.
I clicked on the vistor’s pictures page. Very nice pictures! I have pictures that I took on Nov. 26, 2011 @2:51pm of some Turkey Vultures and of a very special quest among them. I do remember one of the Turkey Vultures moved out the quest way when it flew in. Just send me an email if Tri-State would like to see them. I have more recent pictures of the quest and other wildlife but not of the Vultures. I will have to take some more current pictures of the Vultures.
HI all, to Fran and Lola,
I was away for a few days and had company to boot. Back to my semi-normal schedule again and can try to look at photos and observations, up for fun discussion.
I usually get 20-50 photos a day and keep the best 30, lol.
Out of those maybe a dozen are true keepers.
So, today, chick waddles out of the mini-bowl and end up in hatching corner. In the meantime, P comes and goes. We look for tell tale signs of Id’ing adults. Some obvious, some misterioso.
I do not know why a few comments are designated for “moderation.” I “approve” them as soon as I see them. WordPress is set to post anything that does not appear to be spam. We get lots of spam, which is deleted.
4/23 1:47 pm
Quiet time in the shed, its chilly and windy. Chick appears to have returned itself to the hatching corner. Adult followed.
Some of my comments await moderation! Or is it the quotation marks?
I said ” spot the chick” meaning its begun to travel around the shed a little. All apologies, but I’m curious.
eggs, chick, hatch, testing, lol… am I flagging myself.
On Air 11:36 Leah, thanks so much.
Hope you don’t mind that I mentioned your name.
Counted eggs rolled, count feeding times and now we begin to count “spot the chick” already. Thanks for adjusting cam view.
Adult and chick are in hatch spot, back in the corner. Chick isn’t visible but adult is laying down, assuming it’s keeping the chick nice and warm.