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.
About 10:50am Remy and Sara went on another walkabout. They eat well and each is getting around faster and with much more ease.
Real time is 8:41 am, April 22. Time stamp on video is off this morning.
Both chicks are fed.
Time for a feeding.
Exercising those wings.
A cute close up from today.
1:23 pm chicks are alone and appear to be ready for a another feeding. Chick on the right appears to be calling for parent by opening and closing beak several times. Not sure if it was a hiss sound or any sound at all but was opening and closing as if to say “I am ready to be feed”. No sound on video so it’s hard to say. However, parent responds at 1:27 pm and feeds them.
Taking a quick nap.
Female pulls them closer to the original nest bowl and they settle.
A fantastic day… food chunks and immense growth spurt.
A fantastic day for the BLVU in the shed.
Seems Remy and Sara spent a lot of time in the nest area without adult supervision today.
chilly morning 43°
6:26am feeding
8:17am feeding
9:04am chicks left alone
9:54am both parents arrive
9:56am female leaves, male feeds chicks
10:00am male leaves
10:03am he’s back
11:16am female arrives with food drop for the male
and also small bits to Remy and Sara. She goes to the rear hall area and he follows.
11:19am she is back, a nice feed and he flies down from the sink and leaves the shed.
12:08pm feeding
Chicks nuzzle and preen, alone again, all is very well
3:45pm adult returns
3:57pm male feeds and fills crops.
THANKS Fayeee for the activities of today and thanks Bob.
Chick using its wings for balance during a feeding.
Adult scoots chicks in closer.
Chicks beak to beak.
Beak to beak.
“rubber chicken” leg.
Chicks had tug-o-war two separate occasions, when offered chunk food.
Today is the first day I noticed chunks vs. liquid food.
Tugging and pulling, normal sibling activity. Seems that feeding issue disappeared with more solid food.
Preening, resting. Beautiful.
Nice lighting, excellent to see them being fed chunks today.
Time to feed.
Feeding time
Sleepy, but they are stirring.
Just when it seems all is settled, a tiny wing appears. This is all good.
Hoot reminds us that this is the location of the original nesting.
Early today when commenting about the milestones the chicks had already made, what wonderment at their nature and instinct to explore and learn.
As Bob says, we will be given the best camera views at any time on that given day… and what a day. They will sleep well tonight.
The male has keep over his chicks, Remy and Sara.
A perfect ending to a wonderful day.