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.
A little siesta time.
Curiosity.
Beak nuzzling done nicely. No aggression or dominance.
In the IR, there’s shadow, but still the differences are noticeable.
Fantastic greetings. Gentle acknowledgement of each other.
Remy, left. Sara, right.
Different behaviors this morning. They no longer display a constant craving for food. They are also comfortable with some space between them.
As the adults enter and exit, they stand still and quiet, heads down.
Remy continues to have darker color on the face and a more pointed beak.
Sara has a more hooked beak.
Last evening, tucked in.
There’s that look. Something has their attention. Adult focuses on that area for a while.
Feeding
I am calling this picture “The Wizard of OZ”. Two wonderfully, outstretched legs. So adorable.
Adult and chick wake up after sleeping. Appears that a few mins. earlier the adult may have heard something.
Have a comment awaiting moderation. I was explaining how the adult was behind the sink and out of camera view.
At approx. 1:36 pm, Adult sticks its head through the crack that is between the sink and post or wall. Adult was behind the sink out of camera view and peeked at the chicks from that vantage point. Adult returns at 1:39 pm.
So endearing.
Settling in after a feeding. Adult nudges them in closer and does some preening.
Walking with wings outstretched following the adult out of camera view. Growing up fast.
Something startled the adult. Hops up in the air and does an about face very quickly. Wings outstretched with head bent low while keeping the chicks behind her and protected. After a few seconds all appears to be well. Adult and chicks go out of camera view.
Nice wing view. Still no feeding. She exits a few minutes after this photo.
Female, stunning in the morning light. Slow start for them today.
It is not only a chilly morning, humid air, but the high is only going to be 52° in the nest area.
As adult returns, Sara pecks at the adult’s foot. Hungry.
Chick grabbed the tiny feather and pulled it in.
Their life lessons small and grand are amazing, they do watch and mimic the adults.
Sara, in the back, has been standing and stretching, very playful today.
Grabbed feather toy. Very cute.
Remy extends wing while sitting.
Since then, chick stretched the left wing also. Then, grabbed at small objects and pulled them in.
Wing flaps and got a good view of chick setting wings after flapping.
At 6:20am Fayeee writes, feeding, then adult exits cam at 7:02.
Note:
First time I’ve seen a pellet upchuck in the shed. It occurred at 7:00am
and the pixels are blurred but the expression on the chicks faces was curiosity.
Watching them alone, they preen, play with a feather, stretch and all is good! Remy stretched out the right wing from a sitting position, nice.
Not much seems changed since yesterday evening. A very good thing. Although at the rate of there growth I may change that statement later.
It’s chilly, 42° and high humidity.
Watching adult vultures awake from the roosts at night, they take there time before flight. Perched in a horaltic pose to warm up and dry the wings from the early morning dew. Do the chicks have instinct to be slow risers? They are waking as I type.
A surprise, female tucked the two into the corner and then she tucked her head in and they are napping. She first settle down at about 2:42pm.
Nice!