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.
Parent exited corner to right of tank at 6:42 A.M. too fast too capture.
Fran, so pleased that you and your husband had such a lovely day and that you were able to meet Lynn and her husband and Bob. I’m hoping that I can make the trip to Delaware sometime during the summer. I understand that this was an annual open house and so I’ve missed out for this year.
Am anxious to see Black Vultures in your area, however. We have many Turkey Vultures in Southwestern, PA, but as yet I have not found any BVs. They are in the Eastern part of PA and have gradually been moving westward. I love all vultures, both New and Old World. Think they are magnificent creatures and very fascinating – also very beautiful.
I really like the idea of meeting you and Lynn. It would be wonderful to do some bird watching with both of you.
Hi Carol,
No need to apologize about that…my middle name is Lynn so you weren’t far off…. I knew who you were referring to. Carol,you and Bob are both very welcome for the detailed post of Stevie’s reappearance. I was elated to say the least.
Carol,
I thought the same thing this morning when I first saw the feather around 8:30am. While I was feeding the animals before going to the open house, I had my husband watch the screen for me…he said Stevie came in view and moved the feather towards the tank and turned it over…. when I came back to view it , it is where it is now and is just a large feather….. I was relieved once again.
The open house was great! And , yes I met Bob, Lynn and Lynn’s husband. It was such a pleasure to meet everyone and a wonderful day spent at Tri-State. The staff and volunteer’s were wonderful! What an amazing place! I loved it! I have pictures.
Bob, Lynn and Peter it was such a pleasure to meet you all! Ray and I enjoyed the great conversation! You have friends in Susssex County and are welcome to visit us anytime. Carol, when you come to Delaware we should all try and meet….would be wonderful to meet you as well.
Bob, If Tri-State should ever need to do a release in our area, Ray and I would be very happy to accommodate. Thank you.
Thank you Carol for your comments. I’ve been checking in several times a day and have not seen the baby: I’m thrilled to learn he’s still there and apparently ok. 🙂
If anyone has a chance, please check my screen capture of THE chick by itself. It is standing in an odd position that may be just due to the camera angle. I was so amazed (won’t use the word “e.c.ted” or I’ll be censored)that I couldn’t get my brain or fingers to work.
Parent and chick at 9:00 o’clock. Did not see where they came from, but they exited through area to the right of tank. Thank goodness. I now see that black object I first saw at 7:00 A.M. is a single feather. I thought it was a wing part initially.
Will post my screen caps to Forum as soon as I recover my wits.
Thank you so much, Fran, for posting your great description of THE nestling’s return. Must have been a wonderful moment for you.
I am posting to Forum several screen captures that go with your observations above of visit by parent (“8:14”). My sequence extends from 8:18 P.M. to 8:33 P.M. Hoping again that you will join us on Forum when you have a chance. Would love to have your observations and insights added to the permanent record on my thread.
Thanks for the detailed post, Fran. I still haven’t seen the chick reappear, but I’ll be watching. See you and Lynn tomorrow at Tri-State’s Open House.
Three weeks old today, glad chick is back. lots to catch up on, be back!
8:14pm Parent jumps down from wood pile….standing in front of tank…camera is freezing again at 8:15 and 8:17pm. Parent keeps looking at wood. 8:21pm Parent is still in front of tank. Commercial. 8:23pm Parent still in front of tank.8:24pm Parent looks around to dark corner….possibly trying to get Stevie to come out. 8:26pm Parent looking at boards again and corner. 8:27pm Parent jumps up underneath boards out of sight.
I just posted my observations of Stevie. It is awaiting moderation. Took me a while to type it all and is too long to type over and figure out what word the robot doesn’t like.
At 4:53pm Parents jumps down from wood pile…..camera keeps blinking.
At 4:56:51pm something black which looked like a beak sticks out from crack in the boards above the tank.
At 4:59:02pm Parent comes out from under the boards above the tank and jumps down.
Both Parents are now in view ( I think one came around from the dark corner). They both exit shed.
At 5:09pm Parent comes back. Then it goes underneath the boards out of view
At5:12pm Parent comes from around dark corner and leaves the shed.
At 5:15:42pm I see movement in the dark corner. DRUM ROLL PLEASE: Although it is still hard to see, I can tell it is STEVIE !!!
At 5:17pm Stevie is by pole.
At 5:18pm Hi Stevie!
At 5:21:17pm Stevie is pecking at the ground. He is pecking at the ground on the right side of the tank.
At 5:25pm Stevie is over by the concrete bock….raises his left wing a couple of times.
At 5:26pm Stevie raises both wings, he is behind pole….can still see him….he is movng something around by the pole(maybe an egg shell)
At 5:28pm Stevie flaps both wings and goes behind the pole.
At around 5:52pm..(I think that was the time) Parent comes into shed…is in front of tank looking around.
Commercial comes on screen….after commercial I lost site of Parent.
At 6:18pm I think Stevie is in dark corner….just saw what appeared to be a wing flap but is very hard to see and could just barely make it out…so not postive on this.
Stevie has gotten bigger….he is definitely eating….
That was exciting….so happy that I got to see him.
How wonderful! Did anyone get a screen capture? I missed the big moment of little nestling’s return.
Will post more comments about it all happening….SO EXCITED!!!!
It’s stevie!!!! quick look at your screen!!!!
Happy 3 week Birthday Stevie. Three weeks… No time to read and write, sending a wish for the BV’s.
My apologies, Fran. I meant “Yes’ Fran. Wish we could edit or modify posts as in Forum. That will teach me to proofread more carefully. Will be looking forward to hearing from both you and Lynn about your day.
Yes, Lynn. wonderfully educational. The Northwest was the most extraordinary for wildlife. You mentioned Bald Eagles. We got to see many nesting pairs along the Snake River, just outside Idaho Falls, and also Ospreys throughout the entire area. Do miss the “wildness” and just the variety of animals and birds of both the Northwest and Southwest. Our lives revolved around them.
Now I’m going to date myself. When I first arrived in Caliifornia, there were still some Condors in the wild and now none. So sad.
Glad to hear that you will be going to Tri-State and hope you and Lynn will meet. I can hardly wait to go. Hoping for another Open-House this summer but will go anyway. Wishing you both a wonderful visit.
On April 24th, I posted a comment about the chick’s beak being mis-aligned. Adult was feeding chick at the time. I am a wildlife rehabilitator and have seen this malady over the years. Those of you attending Tri-State’s open house might consult with one of the staff veterinarian’s and quite possibly they have viewed this cam and observed. If not, they could give you a prognosis. We all hope the best for the chick.
Hi Lynn and Carol,
Carol, sounds like you have experienced living in different parts of the United States which can be very educational. I understand about the hunting and agree with you.
Lynn, I am really hoping to go to the open house. Estimated time of travel from the map on Tri-State’s site is 1hr. 4o mins. but I am thinking more like 2 hrs. providing no wrong turns are taken. Your description sounds nice. I do hope to see you and say Hi.
Carol and Lynn both your comments regarding the Black Vultures and Stevie are very informative. I will have to check out your Forum soon. Thank you.
I have posted to Forum a screen shot I captured on April 24 which to me seems to show a bill deformity in our little nestling. Would like to think otherwise and that perhaps it was just the lighting and the angle. Regarding the so called egg “tooth,” this generally falls off a couple of days after hatching. I suppose there could be exceptions.
This is a second attempt to post this comment. The first comment contained descriptive words related to feeding and feather maintenance–nothing suggestive or as Lynn would say “naughty.” We need to be able to use such words when we are describing animal behavior. Just don’t get the censorship here. We are intelligent adults trying to learn and describe as objectively as possible what we see concerning these extraordinary birds that Tri-State has given us the privilege of studying.
I have posted to Forum a screen shot I captured on April 24 which to me suggests a strong possibility of a bill deformity in our little nestling. Would like to think otherwise and that perhaps it was just the lighting and the angle. Regarding the so called egg “tooth,” this generally falls off a couple of days after hatching. I suppose there could be exceptions.
The bill is essential not only for the young adult vulture to open and tear at carcasses but also for feather maintenance. It is possible for birds to make adjustments for the latter, as I understand it, by scratching with a foot. For optimal maintenance, the bill is essential for grooming.
5/3
A lot of activity early in the shed, yesterday and today, then things got quiet. Day four, no chick spotted.
These are intellectual birds that for some reason took chick into hiding. Assuming the little one is safe and sound.
It started during daylight, so I don’t know what animal if any could have triggered it. Not going to keep watch at night, lol. gnite, checked for comments, going now.
So wish that I could join you, Fran and Lynn — and that I lived closer to the “civilized” world. A Cambridge (MA) transport to southwestern Pa via Berkeley for graduate school, San Diego, Albuquerque, Idaho Falls for husbands’s transfers. Have been in this area for the past 22 years and still cannot adjust to concept of hunting as a religion.
Look forward to hearing about the day and hope you do get to meet one another.
Fran,
I have no idea yet what time we will be at Tri-State, but hope to see you and say Hi.
There is a fantastic walking park with a tiny bridge over a stream. Spoiler? Sorry. Won’t say much more, except, there is a path in the woods, for bikes and people.
The rescue building itself is amazing. Won’t say anything else!