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.
I noticed at 7:44 pm, Sunday, that incubating parent had already started relocating eggs, back to the original nest area.
Moving both eggs simultaneously with feet. Parent lined up eggs with the bill and rolled them using the feet.
Didn’t get photo capture, not enough time, but it was exciting to watch.
7:44 pm Sunday, Parent rolls eggs back on tops of feet. Can I say YIPPEE.
March 31, today egg #1 is four weeks, twenty-eight days old.
Egg #2 is 25 days old.
Have egg photos to add to forum tomorrow. One photo shows egg #2 at one minute old. It seems egg #1 has a larger pink colored area. I missed egg #1 arriving. But Carol has added photos.
Gorgeous sight, BVP on eggs.
afk
Bob, Mike, Greg, Thanks so much.
6:43 pm Sunday 3/31 cam went IR, lovely new view and sound. Thank you all so much.
What an amazing view, we will probably see parent/bv entering the nest area and look forward to close ups, will count eyelashes.
49 degrees at nest area, low 43. Tomorrow, high 59 and rain, low 34.
Pop and click sounds from cam, raindrops and birds outside the nest area. LG.
Am I hearing sound from the nest area? Great. I logged out and back in and I am hearing sound. What a gift, thanks!
Sharp, clear view also. Went off air. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Mar 31
Hi all!
I look forward to seeing the improvements very much, when the cam is back. Any news? Were eggs visible?
This is an amazing improvement. Such a sharp picture. So grateful to all concerned — Bob, Greg, Mike.
Yeah. Thanks to you, Mike, and to Greg.
Awesome Bob… Better Infrared with sound too!
Thanks, Bob, for letting us know.
Lynn, I put some pictures and notes on Forum for the time I was able to watch this A.M. Only the partial view. I did not see on SS any notations of egg rolling or shift change.
Has anyone been able to tell whether there was a shift change at any time after 830am? It would have been difficult with partial view, I know, but there might have been a shuffling about at edge. Thanks so much.
We’re doing some camera maintenance today. Live video may not be available all the time.
Hi there, on my iPhone. Lots of company no online time. Sneak peaks when I can. Things should slow down after tomorrow. Carol, if you have time Fayeee is possibly adding info in SS. My notebook will be behind. Spent glorious time watching but now I’m seriously wonderfully busy with humans.
Very curious. For the past hour, since I first looked in, a BV has been positioned to the right of the large debris field, twigs and other objects,sometimes still, sometimes moving. Don’t know whether it is male or female of the pair or perhaps the visitor. This will be interesting to pursue – to see how it sorts itself out.
Have been wondering if today’s “visitor” may not be subadult from last year’s brood. Black Vultures are known to maintain the family bond for a year, and this is well within that time period. The fact that this vulture looked younger, had what appeared to be some white feathers on neck (noted by Lynn), along with the fact that it was tolerated by “parents” could support this as a possibility.
Hi Gretchen, Welcome!
Thank you for adjusting the cam in and out. We get face close ups then feathers, full body and keeping a watch while she rolls the eggs farther and farther.
Time will tell what’s next. Be back soon.
3:13 pm 3/29 Friday, Female is working the eggs nearly out of view.
She is rolling them and moving the sticks and stones with them.
3/29 Noontime was the last capture before I headed out. It’s 2:55 pm and she has moved the eggs and the nest (bowl) over about one foot to the right. Didn’t see the event.
Based on the courtship video posted in the RRP forum, the male has significantly less feathering on the head. The female’s head has feathering up to her forehead while his is completely bare.
Welcome, Gretchen. Yes, I was happy about the camera return also. Watched last year, but only after the chicks were ready to fledge. Looking forward to a complete season this year.
We need as many pairs of eyes as we can get. We have been trying to distinguish between male and female – physical and behavior differences. Captured picture of the female when she laid second egg (March 6 at 8:34 A.M. (posted on RRP Forum), but just can’t see vey clearly. Have never personally seen them together during a shift change. Happy viewing.
I’m so happy to see that the Black Vulture nest cam is running for 2013! I’m trying to spread the word and get more folks to watch.
Off Camera activity today and shift changes, away from keyboard and I will be back for short visits today. A brown material/substance is on ground at nest area.
Female is incubating. Have photos to go over later. To ID adult in shift change. Female has what may be droppings on her left back/wing area. Twice I’ve seen incoming parent with droppings on the back. Made note to look for the captures.
More later. TY for zoom out.
Good morning, 3/29 Friday. 8:29 a.m.
A warmer day in store at the nest area. Sunny, warm with highs in the mid 50’s in nest area. Saturday, same. Sunday, afternoon rain.
Twice Fayeee recorded eggs rolled already today. (Male) is blinking,staring at the dirt, pecking the dirt, but so many fascinating things must be happening. The parents probably feel vibrations from the eggs? The eggs feel the parents too? A wonderful thought.
Noting IR cam switched to color at 8:04 a.m. Friday 3/29, in dedication to the computer savvy techies.
The male has always been the more nervous or restless of the two. It is almost imposible to give a reliable physical description of the female, since she always seems to be huddled with her back to the camera. She has always been the more stoic one. He has several “nervous habits” if it is appropriate to call them that.