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.
Untagged BV entered cam view from the rear hallway, walked up the right hall, as seen in photo. Just after looking upwards (she) opened her wings and tail in a beautiful display, turned around and exited cam view back down the rear hallway. Then posed on the wall (seen in previous photo.)
The vultures horaltic pose is believed to serve multiple functions: drying the wings, warming the body, and baking off bacteria.
The untagged BV seems to be strutting rather than the other choices.
Untagged adult (female?) walked through the shed. She may have been watching #17 up above, something had her interest.
Presuming this is his mate, the untagged female, she too visits the shed. Perhaps poking fun at us us, showing us her untagged wings. She managed to elude her pursuers by escaping capture on more than one occasion. Another fantastic photo from NYM.
The adult male Black Vulture tagged #17 visits the shed 8.15.2014. Fantastic! Thank You NYM for sharing such great news.
Color cam switched just after I snapped IR photo.
Awesome, OnAir. Posting photo to observe and compare if ornamentals are added or moved.
Got a brief glimpse of the shed and went to No signal. Once again, #17 and an untagged were seen, always exciting to hear about it.
Left to right, Thiol, left wing tag #30, Stevie, left wing tag #26 and Ethyl, right wing tag #267.
It was determined through DNA are three are Male.
Fantastic cameras to see them from different areas.
Nice to be able to add photos, thank you. Enjoy!
This time I was so close, as #17 preened, it enabled me to get a great photo of the underside of his tag. Summer 2013.
One more from summer of 2013. Untagged BV was on rooftop and tagged #17 landed next to her and he proceeded to feed her. Beautiful to see. Slight blurr, they were quite far away from me.
Black screen today. Very recent sightings of two adult BV, one tagged, they were seen in the nest area. Exciting!
High hopes for more sightings. This weekend is supposed to be great weather in the Northern DE area.
The tagged male #17 didn’t mind me taking photos. This was the last photo I was fortunate to get of him, unfortunate, it has been a year.
Great to hear they are still nearby, I will keep searching!
7/28 Off Air, will check back soon. Good luck.
7/27/2014 Cam is On Air!
7/27/2014 cam is on air! Apologize for the borders, added from iPad.
Cam has been back on air a few days now. Keeping an eye for ornamentals moved or any Live action.
Nice, we can add photos here now. Thanks.
Cam has been On Air a few days that I’ve seen. No ornamentals inside appear to be moved. Keeping watch.
Beautiful sun shining inside the shed, cam is on! Well, today is the day, got a report that #17 was spotted last evening and headed out to find the BV family today is the plan!!!
Wish me luck!
No signal, but there is a running clock. Miss our BV’s.
It was July 5th, 2013, I saw Stevie flying. I spent hours near the nest area that day and had seen all 3 juvies in the trees. The landings were tricky, can’t say it was with the greatest of ease, but they did it !
June 20, 2013 was a big day for both foster BV’s. Approaching the one year anniversary of their fledge. Ethyl/267 first and soon followed by Thiol/30.
On this date, it was revealed that Stevie/26 and Thiol/30 are males.
Third attempt to capture adult female was without success. Ethyl/267 was pending but revealed to also be a male. All 3 BV chicks are male!
Stevie/26 fledged on July 5th, 2013. Making note of it now.
***On this date, one year ago, the 3 tagged BV chicks were lined up on the wall and all three were enjoying hops in and out of the rain, even Stevie, who ran from the raindrops up until this day.
Most recent sightings of the adult BV and “friends” Thanks everyone for sharing your findings. Exciting for everyone.
James Sharpe on June 11, 2014 at 3:20 pm said:
I spotted a black vulture, wing tag #17, in Newark DE. This was near Newarks Stafford Park.
On June 10, 2014, a black vulture with yellow tags on both wings (#227)was spotted resting on a chimney of a single family house. Gambrills/Davidsonville, MD.
bob on May 22, 2014 at 10:19 pm said:
Tagged vulture #17 and an untagged vulture, presumably the adult pair, were observed today on the roof of a building near Middle Run Natural Area off Possum Hollow Road. A tagged and untagged pair were also seen perched on a sign at Possum Park Mall last week. It appears that, although the pair did not choose to next under our cameras this year, they did not venture far off.
Kitt Heckscher on March 9, 2014 at 1:37 pm said:
Saw #17 eating a dead raccoon at 1pm today (Mar 9th) at 39 42’44.36 and 75 42’41.80. This is just north of the intersection of Old Coach Rd and Polly Drummond Hill Road.
Anne Sinopoli on January 12, 2014 at 3:21 pm said:
On January 11, 2014, a black turkey vulture number 26 was seen in Newark, Delaware. He has a yellow tag with number 26. He was with a flock of black and turkey vultures. He was seen with a flock of about 30 vultures that winter in the tall pines in our back yard.
bob on September 25, 2013 at 4:22 pm said:
Two or three of the vultures tagged by Tri-State Bird Rescue/Hawk Mountain Sanctuary were seen by Jenny this morning in New Castle County, DE, along New Linden Hill Rd, near Boyds Valley Dr. They were with a big flock (the observer lost count at 35) feeding on a deer carcass. Tags were yellow. Tag numbers observed were #267 on the right wing and #26 on the left wing.
The most recent sightings have me ready to go for a drive and try again to locate them. I’d like to go find out and be fortunate enough to get news and photos. In the last year I have only located #17. Always hoping to see the others. It seems that #30 Thiol, is the only one of the four tagged at Tri-State, that has not been reported as being seen.
I am waiting!!! Thank you Bob.
Cameras are once again streaming live video for the vulture nest site. Sorry for the interruption! The adult pair, including #17, were seen near the shed a couple days ago. Perhaps they will take a peek inside.
The ole front porch and wall.
Thanks again to Jenny Caldwell for taking photo and sharing with us.