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.
Male left the nest area and visited a few times, in and out of cam view.
The chicks became active. They were taking steps, walking on haunches.
Gaining stride with ease, they were getting around well.
Ren (left) Tori (right)
Adding from 4/12pm.
A cropped closer look at the adult female’s toe and chicks tiny foot.
Not for long, they grow fast as we have learned.
Adding from 4/12pm.
A good evening for the BLVU.
Notice chick’s feet. Rubber chicken pose, face plant, whatever
anyone calls it, it surely is too cute.
At 10:07am Ren and Tori are alone. Cuddled, preening and flapping. Too cute.
Second shift change this morning. Busy adults, perhaps off taking advantage of an abundant food source. They had a very satisfying feast day yesterday.
Male following shift change.
Currently 64° in the nest area.
Early risers today, shift change at 6:21am the male arrives and feeds female, then she leaves. (Fayeee)
Resting early after a very good day.
Fayeee says take a look at their crops. Had a good laugh, two waddling chicks.
They appeared to be overstuffed but both continued to eat.
A warm day, in the mid 80’s today. Temps will return to the 60’s soon.
At 3:30pm more food… they ate and relax.
Male, Ren close to him and Tori facing in.
Two active playful chicks.
Scooting, wing flaps and handsome feathers. Chicks are both scooting around and doing great.
What a fabulous day so far.
Substantial food source and they chicks eat and eat.
Fayeee says throughout the day: food and more food.
Both chicks are scooting around, even with bulging crops.
They manage to scoot around. Nearly out of view for brief moments!
At 10:39am the male exits, the chicks stick together, preening and pecking at the dirt. Very cute.
Beak to beak, playful. Tori is flapping wings a lot and grunting.
They have settled back to rest, handsome male.
It is 65° in the nest area, heading to at least 80° that in no typo.
I may on occasion enter a 5 for April (4), but the weather will be very warm today.
Note: at 8:49am he was chattering his beak.
At that time Tori was trying to get underwing, related or unrelated.
Handsome close up, he won back the chunk and carried it over near cam, held it down and shredded it, to return to the chicks.
From the males crop, Ren was pulling out a large chunk of food, as the male attempts to retrieve it because it’s too large of a piece. Ren decided to go all out and not let go.
She is a “hoot” chick tugged and as the male tugged both chicks were rolled over.
Yes, thats Tori’s tiny feet in the air and Ren is on her back, flapping wings and would not let go!
Ren hit and bit Tori, chick lowers the head and makes no attempt to eat at this time.
Tori spend a good part of the early morning hours outside the comfort of a wing and sibling to cuddle. Chick tried to get underneath many times. Still safe and warm, remembering Sara.
Sara was fine, seems they adapt to pecking order, male vs female. Yes, Sara is a male. One year old already. Tagged #247.
At least twice the chick flapped and pecked at females chest to attempt to get under and the female very gently nudged her with her beak. Tori listened and stopped.
They have grown so much in a week.
Wide awake and then that fast, they would be asleep again.
Life is good for the BLVU family.
A couple warmer evenings and the female stands more often.
The chicks make only tiny efforts to move, they do occasionally wake and look around,
but then the eyes close and the heads slowly lower to the ground.
Adult female, Ren (left) Tori (right)
Adult female has deep v brow, darker legs, stubbed talon on right middle toe. Ren has a more broad face, less hair on the forehead area, a more elongated looking beak. Tori has a rounder appearing face with a cap of downy hair.
A beautiful wing stretch and the chicks are learning by everything they see.
Adding from 4/10 early am.
Ren and Tori on haunches, a good feeding.
Solid large food bits. At least three times female took a large bit away from Ren, it was
far too big for the chick, but Ren went right back in and tugged it out again and again.
The HD cam gives us a better view of the feedings. In the past, it appeared the adults would mainly regurgitate food for them, perhaps in the first week that is what they do, when feeding liquid/stringy food, but that’s changing.
The adults have been holding open their beak and the chicks go in and pull out solid chunks.
If the adult finds it’s too big, they take it back. Thoroughly clearing the area of any pieces of food, no matter how small.
Tori is flapping and grunting, trying to get the males attention.
Can’t get closer, his foot is stopping the chick from tucking in.
Adding from 4/10
At 2:25pm Fayeee says both adults were each feeding a chick.
Here, the male laid down and stayed a while with the chicks.
Very cute. Although Tori couldn’t get tucked in close and was flapping.