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.
5/3 cam zooms to tank, phantom bird, made of stone in corner.
I saw those stones, thought it was chick, not moving, so I knew Fran was thinking it too.
I went though photos and saw Stevie AND those stones, it was a relief.
Posted phantom photo in forum a couple days back.
At 8:29am Parent in middle of nest area…came from dark corner. 8:30am exits shed. 8:38am Parent comes in stands by pole….looks around and goes out at 8:39am . Had to leave pc for about 15 mins. When I came back, I saw Parent at 9:05am walk in and go to dark corner and out of sight.
Parent makes a very quick visit at 9:05 A.M. Looks around and then exits quickly to right front. Missed the brief 8:30 A.M. visit noted by Lynn on SS. Very good that parents are checking area. Hoping that chick was fed during visit at 7:06 A.M.
I have a photo that I will add to the forum. Straight on, you can see chicks beak, with a creamy colored growth on it. Time will tell, but after seeing this specific photo, it gave me much more hope, that the beak isn’t deformed but has a growth, like the egg tooth didn’t come off or a calcium growth? It looks like the beak is ok. What do I know?
Not a lot about these things, but I know what I see and hopefully it is a growth that can fall off or be scraped away if need be.
Now we just need to see the chick.
Encouraging sight. Adult entered shed area from front at 6:54 A.M., flew to top of tank, disappeared from view. Adult jumped down into space at right of tank at 7:06 A.M. and exited rapidly. Got a screen capture of entrance but not exit (too fast and wasn’t ready).
This would have allowed plenty of time for a feeding – perhaps a little nuzzle also (hope so).
Thank you Lynn and Carol for your answers!!!
Carol,
For some reason I thought you might live in Delaware also. That is a long drive, especially with all that you have to do too. The camera is sticking and it’s too dark for me to see.
Is that something fuzzy sitting up facing flat stone in left corner? Or just my imagination and wishful thinking. Watching for movement.
Did post to Forum screen capture of parents from 7:28 A.M. One parent with outstretched wing. Lovely view of primaries. We don’t get to see this very often. But quite difficult to see.
Hi Lynn and Fran. I would love to go to the Open House, but that’s a long drive for me right now (40 miles north of Pittsburgh). Have four sets of exams to grade and must have grades in on Monday morning. I’ll be thinking of you, however, and perhaps over the summer I can visit Tri-State
Lynn,
I just wanted you to know that while I was typing a response to your comment, I had to stop…..jump up and run outside to chase the neighbor’s dog who was chasing a red fox that had just left my property…before that I had to go get Oscar off the dock who was aggravating the Swallows. Never a dull moment here… Are you and Carol going to the open house?
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for identifying that rock. I thought that it was there before but then I had to go an question myself till…well you knew exactly what I was thinking…. lol….and I believe there is a black feather lying with the rock. Late this afternoon, I was able to see a little better. I have seen the carpenter bee too. I was curious about the lice. It seemed only natural that they would remove them along with the dirt and other things. Do you suppose the lice have any nutritional value… sort of like a supplement? I just had a couple of comments that had been waiting moderation but that was 2 or 3 day ago……they have since been posted….one had a smiley face on it… As long as Stevie can eat and everything else with it….. hopefully all will be well with his beak. I would love to come to Tri-State’s open house. My Father’s birthday is May 5th also…..so I am torn… I will know more tomorrow hopefully. Do you have to have a reservation to go?
Fran, Will you be attending the Tri-State Open House on Sunday?
Fran, I thought the same thing. You didn’t say it but I know what you are thinking. That is definitely a rock. I put a picture of it on the forum and called it the phantom because it looked like you know who. Oh, like minds. I am sure about the rock.
I imagine all those in and outs today, chick is back there. I remember you commented on lice, also because P seemed it was being bit, right? I see two different kinds of bees, carpenter bees dont sting, but there is a small bee living in the wood beam and I wonder if they sting the bv’s. Lice, bees, something was getting to them. Maybe bugs got them to move? Or it’s just what they do. lol.
I think because the beak has a cream colored growth on it, it blends and its not always visible but its been there a long while. Maybe Stevie will bite a stick and the growth will fall off. Does an egg tooth ever bond to a beak?
Did I get to the question you said was waiting… i hope so.
Carol and Lynn your welcome for the updates. Thank you for you comments as well. Lynn, now your comment about tap dancing makes sense to me. At times, like Carol commented, Stevie’s beak looked ok. But during a close up shot, I was able to see better. I am still hoping for the best. I have not seen any activity while I have been on. My attention has been drawn toward the concrete block. The block being propped up against the tank creates a little corner. Is it just a rock lying in that corner? I am trying to remember if it was there before.
Whoops. Probably can’t use the word “indulge.”
Please, dear little nestling,indulge your adoptive parents even if only with a brief appearance. Your Black Vulture parents know and accept your true nature as an intelligent, inquisitive three-week old. We humans are not privy to that, nor do we have the right to be. We need just some small assurance that you are safe and sound whereever your wandering spirit has led you.
5/2
14 viewing 11,676 views. 9:37 a.m.
Chick Watch, day three begins.
5/2
8:40 a.m. P arrives, walks to tank, hops on top, disappears,
8:45 a.m. both parents walk out from behind tank and exit.
Stevie could be behind the tank. If the adults fit, the chick should.
Watching for movement in the alley or behind the cinder block in left center.
It’s been about 47 hours since chick went to the right corner and thanks to the alley cam, we got a view. However, seems chick is on a holiday retreat. Exploring and tasting even more new things. The last two days the chick was visible, everything went into the beak. lol.
We did have a great view of the doorway yesterday, Thanks for that., but no chick there that I saw.
Have a good day.
Both parents were in area in front of tank at 7:30 A.M. Will post screen capture to Forum much later. Am getting ready to leave to give the fourth and final exam of the semester. Whew!
Neither adults or nestling visible at 5:31 A.M.
Good Morning, Abril. Nice to see you again. All of the scientfic papers I have read on both Black and Turkey Vultures describe the chicks as “wanderers.” They are extremely intelligent and very curious. They want to explore. When vultures “nest” in rock crevices this can be disastrous, but the shed appears to be a very safe environment for this behavior.
My concern here is the age of our little nestling. Last year the two much more fully developed chicks did often disappear from view, only to return to camera view. Hoping this will be the case this year.
Am also hoping that bill will not turn out to be a problem.
We are watching too!
Stevie’s beak, when i first noticed clearly was on April 23rd and noted April 24th if memory serves me. Emailed photos to Bob and discussed it with Fayeee and we decided not to discuss it until Bob/Tri-State mentioned it. Kept thinking its simple as a calcium build up and will fall off, when chick bites sticks and objects.
Fran, I tap danced around it and maybe now it makes more sense what I said or didn’t say. I know how It felt seeing the beak and didn’t want to ignore your concern. But, didnt want to sound the alarm without Bob saying it first. Thanks for the comments and highlights. I wasn’t home all afternoon and now I have notes to add for today, works out great.
Abril, this is my first season watching the BV. Four yrs now the BV have nested in the shed and have been observed. Bob had installed the new alley cam to try to keep up with them. Seems it was known that the chicks are all over the place. But, I didn’t think it would be so soon. Hope this helps.