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.
So,
Homeowner in the area photographed her having the best time, she was flapping her wings and had
a great bath!
There is the answer, she chose to be in the rain! FANTASTIC
Female arrives for shift change. We were wondering about her, was she out searching for food and got caught far away… she arrived soaked to her soft downy feathers…
Shift change, female returned drenched.
Imagine that she may have been out searching for food early morning before the deluge of rain arrived. Can’t imagine that she was nearby perched in a tree.
Reminds me of her mate #17, in 2013 he used to come indoors when it rained, we laughed about it.
No preening, even her soft downy feathers on her legs are wet, but she insisted on a shift change.
Photo now included.
Feisty Ren, holding Tori’s beak closed. So much is repeating itself from last season.
Well, presuming Ren is female, will be interesting to watch for signs, could Tori also be female.
Will Tori go with the flow or perhaps take a stand, time will tell.
After all, they are company for each other, safe and dry on a rain soaked, windy day.
Zoom in on earlier photo.
Name day has arrived for the 2017 BLVU chicks!
Older chick is given the name Ren.
Ren, ruler. Suspect female, food driven, same as sibling Remy from last season.
Younger chick is given the name Tori.
Tori, Triumphant, similar to sibling Sara from last season, who adapted and dealt with a dominant sibling. They cuddle and are company for each other, yet, Ren keeps the wing and chin on top.
Making room in the crop.
songdog8 from Social Stream said that during feeding on 4/5 adult was feeding chicks “chunk food” this is great news.
Morning feedings, there’s many feedings, so far today.
Fayeee said:
5:47am, feeding
7:09am, 7:55 more food for Tori*
8:32am duel feeding, one on each side of the beak.
8:48am Male arrives and feeds female,
8:49am shift change
9:30 he preens chicks
9:52am feeding
Plenty to eat and feedings often, adding chunks into the diet, there was a small amount of pecking only. Life is good for the BLVU family!
couple years ago i followed a turkey vulture nest with two chicks. there was sibling fighting! often! they grew up to be huge birds and were closely bonded with each other.
dont worry about the neck biting-it happens. guess the bickering, pulling, makes them stronger adults. i know the turkey vulture parents never stopped it.
Being away all day, came home. logged in to find them resting, oldest peaking out, too cute.
Beautiful female.
Oldest still bites sibling, bites the neck area, holds on. however, baby is getting stronger doing well,
except for the occasional bite. Older chick has been holding onto chicks neck tight.
Fantastic news, is female is giving chunk food now and it seems to be calming “her” down.
Deep V brow, female. Crooked beak.
Female is quite experienced and divides her time between the two.
Male still seems nervous and hopefully with time he will learn to divide his attention also.
We haven’t been able to ID him yet as a new mate, he surely isn’t experienced, from handling eggs to handling the chicks. Here’s to learning!
I missed Live action a good part of the rest of the day into evening.
Fayeee indicated the female arrived and both chicks had full crops.
What a sight this morning! Sharp clear view, both chicks ate light.
and better still…
Tiny chick made it and both are eating and getting stronger, although food is an issue.
Need to pick a proper “female” name for chick #1.
Last season Remy was food aggressive and attacked sibling and a time or two had events with both adults. With Remy, we discovered the females are far more aggressive from day 1. This season the first chick seemed to eat and eat and it occurred to me this may be a female. Seeing the actions sure seems so.
Both are upright, using wings for support and eating well, with the issues that go along with it.
After a few attempts the new chick eats! Things continue to get better.
Note: shift change occurred one minute prior, this is the female. In living color, beautiful.
Shift change arrives, female returns.
Both upright, a nice warm day in the nest area. Things are looking better.
Creating a cozy mantle of sorts. Beautiful feathers.
This photo was the first meeting of the male and his second chick.
He was not showing much interest in the new chick. He preened and fed the older, multiple times. It wasn’t looking so good, in the beginning. Adding this as behavior. It’s not typical of any BLVU parent that I’ve seen so far.
Fantastic, two chicks hatched.
Although, the beginning was rough for the tiny chick.
Seems the older may be a female. Showing food aggression. The tiny chick still hasn’t eaten,
and was attacked by the older sibling. Being bitten and attacked, the younger cried loudly, no adult intervention.
Older chick was using the head and wings to hold the chick down, preventing any feeding.
Again, no adult intervention, although the female began to settle down atop them and it stopped it.
First incident, the male was present, seen in this photo. He made no effort to feed the tiny chick. Noting for behavior, he preened and fed the older chick only.
Tiny chick is tired, after all the effort to hatch out of the shell.
Wonderful news, hatch in progress, egg #2!
Tiny chick was so exhausted. Hard work to hatch out of the shell.
Female gets food drop from male and she exists. He seems to enjoy time with the chicks. Although he clearly lacks experience. His heart is in it.
The chicks are getting acquainted. #2 is the tiny atop the stack. .
Chick #2 has arrived!!! Female feeds the first hatched chick. The younger rests a bit.