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.
3/28 3:00 pm Male is on nest. Rolled eggs minutes ago. He has been pulling small twigs and pebbles around the nest area. Great zooming and thank you Bob, close up face reveals familiar facial features.
Fayeee points out that the male digs in dirt and blinks a lot. So I am learning to watch the actions. My studying feathers will make it even better.
March 28th. Typo.
#/28 3:00 pm
Zoom in, Male is on eggs. Fantastic! Fayeee and I from SS were discussing the Parent. Very interesting that Fayee, Carol and I each pick up on different identifying features.
Carol seems to favor the feathers. Fayeee picks up on habits, playing in dirt and me, I like facial photos and close ups.
approx noontime, 3/28 Female leaves eggs. P returns to eggs at 12:20. Still trying to ID.
Thank you for close ups! Its (female) I believe. 11:16 a.m. Thurs She has built around a small circle of twigs. I will go back and check shift change for her duration.
Carol, good morning,
Thought that I mentioned that on Wednesdays I am away from keyboard, its family day. Company and dinner, cleaning and even cooking sometimes.
I apologize, if it didn’t get posted. I am back and will keep watchful eye today and we will catch up tomorrow. Good luck with gradings.
Good Morning, Lynn. Welcome back. Concerned about you. This is a teaching day for me, and so I will be away most of this day. Hold down the fort and enjoy.
10:48 pm Wednesday Visible sillohouette of Parent with white blinking eye, rotates eggs. I am on laptop and do not know how to get screen captures.
Hi Carol,
I wasn’t here most of the day or evening, back tomorrow. Early!
susu, really have always thought Black Vultures (and Turkey Vultures) are handsome birds — special kind of beauty. Guess not all would agree. They are both so fascinating.
Great close-ups. Thank you TS camera person. Really helpful.
If they are clear, will post screen captures on Forum.
Well, closer look, female came and stayed, thank you for the zoom, I am sure it’s her! Wednes 3/27 it is now 12:03 pm. Thanks now we can keep track of how long she incubates the eggs!
Very nice close up…I’m almost tempted to say that he is handsome! Looks like he is trying to nod off at noon. Thanks for the zoom ~
Lighting is changing and view is a tad blurry to say Male of female but I am sticking with Male. It does appear this P has a crooked beak.
Seems Female came in for a visit and left. Will wait and see if we get zoom! I will be away from keyboard most of today, Wednesday.
Have always associated the male with more white/gray. Have begun to wonder whether this is a good criterion or not for distinguishing between the two. Black Vultures have white/grey color on underside of wings. Is the apearance of more white/grey just an accident and tied more to the way the adult is sitting or standing at one particular time? Don’t know.
Believe this is the male with thicker bill, knob at end, wider, more furrowed ruff around face. Always seems more alert, often nervous. Lynn?
Shift change possibly at about 9:24 a.m. Mar 27. Saw out the corner of my eye, two BV in nest area, if I was fortunate to get screen capture, will post it in forum.
This BV has a noticeable amount of white on its feathers.
Good morning. Mar 27, 9:09 a.m.
Beautiful view of incubating P, (male) He returned yesterday after about a 2 hour shift change.
I made a note that there are bird droppings on the wooden plank above the nest area and have taken a few photos to look for changes or additions. Plan to look in my older photos to see if they have been there or if they are recent. Any ideas?
Busy day. Mar 26. Male on nest early, about 10 a.m female enters, shift change. Two hours later she exits and male is back on incubation duty. About every two hours Ps are rolling eggs. Sunny lovely day and great screen captures. Carol and I are in agreement as to identity of the female and male. The clear close up images seem to confirm that female is returned from 2012 nest.
Thank you for sharing them with us.
was there an egg roll? This is different P? I went to Ustream and Fayeee said, “I wasn’t sure. Was off camera for about 10 sec 12:20”.
Male is back
Definitely shift change. First noticed about 11:11 a.m. 3/26 Tuesday.
Thank you again!
Bob, thank you.
There has been a shift change. Female has returned. Great.
The Vulture Computer automatically updated its operating software and shut down the live video feed in the process. Back online now.
Still Off Air, I will be back later to check.
FYI, I have posted two images of Parent that match from 2012 and 2013.
They are in the BV Forum. I will continue to check other photos with hopes of identifying a familiar mate to her!
The photo last year ID’s as Female, this years same Female, Also, this being the female says that it is the Male who has been on the nest this last week. Next, trying to ID male. I am a novice birder but the pictures sort of show this as the same female. I am hoping that an expert may confirm, its exciting.
8:29 am Tues Mar 26th. Cam is Off Air.
Last night, around 10:30 I saw (male) P awake and on eggs. Could see eyes blinking. Then shortly after, P laid down on eggs.