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.
The two eating together. Sara on far left, Remy in cam center. Pretty female.
Sara reaches over to feed.
In the sunlight Remy has a v brow like the adult female. Longer beak, like the adult female.
Another simultaneous feeding. Then individual feeding.
“I’m not gonna try it, You try it”
The innocence and adventure of the two is comical at best.
They were curious and hesitant. Viewer was holding her breath.
… Now what a fun adventure earlier!
Remy and Sara were at the pallet area heading towards the exit.
Beautiful chicks!
Notice quite possibly Remy is still in the lead.
Head down, but eye contact same as earlier.
Head down is submission most times? But, the eye contact is probably a possible trigger.
Remy and Sara get along so well, but there are times when it seems
a sideways glance or movement can cause Remy to react.
See photo from 9:21AM today, practically the same stance.
Full face and beak. Male on a rainy afternoon.
Soaker of a rain shower passes and the male arrives drenched.
It is cute to see them eating at the same time. Adult makes them reach a lot too. They will both be on tippy toes. It’s really cute!
Ok, here they are and what a difference from two days ago.
It don’t seem the aggression was food related, they each had full crops.
I had noticed and commented prior to incident, about how long Remy was going to tolerate Sars’s unusual behavior. Sara used wing and body atop of Remy, Sara was taking top spot on the pile, head over Remy and many small things seemed to build up. I think their body english is so subtle to us, but they get the intent immediately.
Answer to my thinking out loud, how long? It was about an hour, then Remy put a halt to it. It wasn’t about food. But, perhaps Sara got ahead to feed.
Today, they had a stare down, Sara had kept head lower. We’ve seen the adult male enter slowly, head low. The first night after (Remy) hatched pretty sure he didn’t get to see the chick at all. She kept him away, standing with her head lowered. He entered slow with his head lowered the next morning, she allowed him to see the chick.
First time I have seen both chicks receiving food at the same time. No aggression viewed during this particular feeding.
Beak to beak but no aggression at this particular time.
Currently, at 8:18am both are sitting up, playing with a feather, doing what vulture chicks do, a fine morning.
Chilly start this morning, 48°.
Fayeee sees feeding at 6:09am, then adult leaves and returns at 6:23am.
In between, we got to see two sleepy chicks.
Leading up to the incident…
Earlier today, both were flapping and filled with energy!
Stretching together, too cute.
Resting. Remy was digging and kicking, cute.
Also noticed Sara is laying low. Chicks wants for nothing!
Both eat, play, preen, flap wings, hop, take steps.
Just seems more than ever that Remy will have the upper hand over Sara.
Perhaps the other aggressive issues were more than “food” and not as noticeable since they were so tiny. Overstuffed crops. Good feeding without incident. Resting.
Weather is 31° cooler today than yesterday. Quite possible, they are huddled to stay warm.
Female intervenes and currently she may be atop both of them.
Sara was stunned. Adult female stood staring at Sara and chick acknowledged her and accepted food.
I actually laughed in comments that Sara was being assertive and dominating and how rare it is, but had no idea this would happen.
A rare event, a hard life lesson for Sara.
Note:
I referred to Sara as “her” when I do try to avoid that. Since I believe Remy is a dominant female chick and perhaps Sara is male or a sub female chick.
Adult Female was trying to get in the middle. Hard to watch but noting the behavior, she asserted herself to try to stop them.
Food arrived and Remy grabbed Sara’s beak and it was intense. I just said the aggression stopped, there has been no food issues.
Seems perhaps Sara’s body language back then was perhaps giving off signs. Remy gave Sara a hard lesson today.
Flapping, Sara was surprising me by her “confidence” I posted about it but my comment is awaiting moderation…
Sara pinned down Remy, was standing behind Remy leaning on the older siblings back, flapping a lot. (Showing dominance I was thinking)
I was just saying, wonder how long Remy was going to tolerate Sara being on top and Sara pinned Remy and it was unusual. Well, food arrives and Remy gave Sara a hard lesson. Chicks are ok, since Sara did eat, but the female tried to intervene, it was rough.