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.
Fran, I have posted to Forum two pictures showing the right hand corner by post when all chicks were present this afternoon. Can’t see any difference.
Thanks Carol…… I keep going back and forth from here to forum.
Fran, Bob got the message. Left message for you on Forum.
Can anyone identify what is over by the pole on the right hand side….going back toward hallway. I know Carol…..so upsetting…I tried calling several times….it’s all I could do.
Fran, I left an emergency message for Bob on Ustream SS where he visits fairly regularly. I can’t believe there is no emergency number. Just feel so helpless sitting here. Don’t know what to do.
there is a fox in the shed….tried to call but only recording…have pics.
A great treat this morning at 10:42 A.M. The entire family together outside in front of the shed. This is the first time I have seen the parents together with “Stevie” and the Fosters. Was th*r*I*l*led. Have posted to Forum.
Hi Lynn, I’ve missed seeing your posts. I was able to capture all 3 of the BV chicks doing a bill nuzzle. It’s on page 48 of the Forum if you haven’t seen it already. The BV chicks are really growing up fast.
HI everyone,
Cam is off air, for unknown reason. Surely appreciate the devoted techies who work days, nights and weekends to keep cam Live.
We all appreciate your efforts, very much.
Welcome, MLP.
Would be very pleased to have you and your students visit our threads on RRP Forum. There are some wonderful screen captures and observations recorded there. We have been following the Black Vultures from the first hatch this season.
If you wished to participate, you would need to sign up by going to the link below. That’s the easy part. It just takes RRP a few days to approve the membership. If you just want to view the pictures and observations, Tri-State has posted the link above under “Raptor Resource Project.
If you have any other questions, please let me know. Hope to see you on Forum soon. Good luck.
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/
It took me forever to find the forum myself. It’s here: http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,1684.0.html?PHPSESSID=n3tf1lmfolsuk0184uqc4kdfc0
This is page one; the most current posts are on page 49.
Welcome, MLP.
Would be very pleased to have you and your students visit our threads on RRP Forum. There are some wonderful screen captures and observations recorded there. We have been following the Black Vultures from the first hatch this season.
You would need to sign up by going to the link below. That’s the easy part. It just takes RRP a few days to approve the membership. They are primarily interested in assuring against spammers. I’m not exactly sure how they do that, but you
just need patience.
If you have any other questions, please let me know. Hope to see you on Forum soon. Good luck.
http://www.raptorresource.org/forum/
How do I get to the Forum? So many things posted there that my students would like to see. Tks
mlp
I forgot to say the screen captures are on the Forum of stretching, nuzzling and feeding.
I have screen captures of Stevie stretching at 4:00 and 4:05pm today on the green mat. LB may be supervising or waiting his turn in one of the pictures…lol. At 4:10 pm Stevie and LB are nuzzling. At 4:12 pm Parent enters shed and feeds Stevie first….(Stevie and LB were lying down at the time and Stevie was closer to Parent) Stevie gets up and Parent feeds Stevie….then LB gets up and Parents feeds LB. I have the screen capture of Parent feeding LB. Just as quick they exit the shed. During the time I was viewing, I did not see RB.
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let you all know that I posted an amusing image of the chicks tonight taken at 9:32pm to the Forum. RB chick is standing mighty tall…lol LB chick is standing and sweet Stevie TS is sleeping. All are together in front of the sink.
We continue to watch for any signs of favoritism by the parents for any of the chicks and for signs of preference by any chick for the company of the other chicks. Everyone’s observations would be welcome.
Welcome back, susu. Quite a bit of activity earlier when parent entered at 5:52 P.M. and chicks thought they were going to get a meal. Didn’t happen. Parent left at 5:56.
Yes, I agree about the orphans. This has turned out to be a loving home for them. They seem very much a part of the family. So happy for the original chick.
just a bit of a furry head and an eyeball just to the left of the cam…no one walking down the alley. waiting patiently. happy that the orphaned babies have found a home here.
Congratulations on 16,000+ views today of the Ustream BV Cam¡
10:00pm Parent #17 has been busy preening all the chicks. Looks like they are all sleeping now.
Around 4:30pm, saw one chick enter the shed…stumbled a little bit…but made it in….not sure if it was Stevie or not. Then camera moved back around….all three are over by the sink….I think little Stevie is the one closest to the sink….he appears to be a little smaller…. so cute.
Hi Carol,
No I haven’t posted any pictures on the sites you mentioned. I would be more than happy to send them to you. I tried to post 4 pictures of the Turkey Vultures and a Special Guest to the forum but it said error occurred …..something about the size was too big…..
Good to hear from you, Fran. Do you post your photographs anywhere -Flikr, Photobucket? Would love to see them, especially those of Bald Eagles, but really any of them.
Hi everyone,
EmmieJan has been creating BV videos adding music, very fun to watch.
Nice to have permanent memories. They are in Youtube at EmmieJan or EmmieJanJan.
Thanks so much.