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.
Egg #2 was an hour old and female was up, down and left shed.
Male has been on eggs for 4-5 consecutive days at least two times so far and when Female returns, she doesn’t stay long.
Yesterday was day 4 of Male being on eggs without shift change. Female returned and was in and out and left at least 3 times.
Was wondering if activities outside of shed had her on the move.
But the actions of the incoming BVs it surely seemed to be different BVs.
Looking at last seasons photos, this is the same female, so throw out my theory that she is a first time parent! Always interesting!
Thanks,Lynn. Knew I could count on you. I miss so much because of my job. Feel I just get bits and pieces. Must retire soon so I can indulge some of my passions. Won’t be too long now.
Hi Carol,
I have recapped it for you in Forum.
First shift change after egg #2 was at 9:28 a.m. 3/6.
The photos are in replies #132/133. Female leaves eggs,eggs alone, Male enters nest and acknowledges a second egg, it was amazing.
The next time I noted another switch was about 1 p.m., Female was back.
3/7 a.m. Skimmed captures and a lot of up and down, wing stretches, then at 10 ish Female was on the eggs. Got to get going for now.
Clouds are heading out and hopefully sun will show today (ahem, and cam) lol. Later!
Good Morning All. I am trying to find documentation for a shift change between the time the second egg was laid at 8:34 A.M. on March 6 and around 4:00 P.M. that same day. Denise Bittle reported one for the following morning at 9:48 A.M. If anyone can fill in that gap, I would be most grateful. Thanks.
Hope the camera is back soon. Exciting times to come very soon.
Misty, rainy, giving way to a cloudy afternoon, high near 60.
Off air.
Off Air this morning.
P resting comfortable, taking breaths is relaxing, wings fluffed.
Tonight the temps will be upper 30’s so it’s not as cold or windy for tomorrow, but rain is coming.
I also think they are fluffing more again now that temps are warmer. There is probably some amazing vibrations going on between the P and eggs now. On that happy thought, see yall tomorrow.
We are so lucky.
Missed much of the activity today – teaching day for me. Grateful to Lynn and Fayeee for reports. Did just get to see very short preening session by incubating parent (facing out). Preening is an essential maintenance activity and occurs several times a day. These BVs have been pretty true to form in that regard. Ive noticed that in general this activity follows an egg roll. Essential for keeping the feathers smooth and clean, free of parasites, ready for flight.
thanks to Fayeee who got the ones I missed.
Eggs rolled at 3:55 pm and P was gathering small objects pulling them into nesting spot. Cute. It was. I can’t help it.
4/4 Highlights of busy day in shed.
As of noontime there were 3 times the Ps left the shed and returned.
12:03 PM P exits
12:06 PM First time the adult enters slow and cautious, looks around, had to search for the eggs, P went to the old spot first and had to look for eggs.
12:29 PM P exits
12:41 PM adult/P enters swift, goes directly to eggs.
1:36 PM P exits
1:49 PM P enters slow and cautious, walking around the shed area slowly, goes to eggs.
Parent moved eggs farther behind the beam, off and on, they are in and out of view today, but two eggs are there.
I only was able of getting one good screen capture/photo at the third incoming of P to shed. It is in the BV forum. When its sunny you can see their shadow on the shed as they walk up, but time wise, its not easy to get a photo upon entering. I need to learn how to record videos then I can create the screen captures I want!
4/4 12:40 p.m. P hustles in and goes to eggs. Quick entry.
Just said to Fayeee last time Female came back after Male being on the eggs for 5 days, she stayed two hours.
P left shed at approx 12:26p.m., 4/4. Second time today eggs are alone. Will try again to see if I catch arrival, looked away for a moment and didn’t see P leave. But its only been a minute or two, tops.
4/4 at 12:06 PM P returns to shed. Walks to old/oroginal nest area and looks, pauses, then walks to eggs. May be a shift change?
No sooner had I posted, at 12:03 PM 4/4 P leaves. Saw the tail end walking out. No photos. Will try to get returning P arriving.
4/4 no recent Parent shifts. Day 4.
Last shift I noted was 4/1. P went out at 9:56 am and a P returned 10:36am. No parent/adult on eggs for 40 minutes on Monday, Apr 1.
Checked with Fayeee to compare notes. Fayeee commented she hadn’t seen a shift change since then either.
[Greg on April 1, 2013 at 10:17 am said:
About 10:00am adult sitting on eggs took flight. Usually when this happens the other adult took over incubating but it’s not around at the moment. ?? It is a warm day, temp outside is 52 degrees.]
This was the last shift change we saw. So counting since Monday, today is 4th day. Long incubating time (again.) will keep watch.
Good Morning, 4/4 another blustery and cold day at the nest area.
*bottom left of tiny portal. I do see light streaming in the top. oops.
Q:
The tiny portal on left side of cam view seems to be covered over, no sunshine enters is how I noticed. Was this done for their safety, to me, it seems safer.
7:26 am Wednesday
Twice in twenty minutes P stands and looks at eggs. Settles back down.
Good Morning!
P has rolled eggs and since then, had a quick stretch. It’s cold with gusty winds still. Temp in nest area is 31. Wind chill 22.
No fluffing the feathers now. Head tucked, feathers are tight to keep warm no doubt. Over the last couple weeks or so, P fluff feathers and appear to regulate body heat, but early mornings it’s not happening.
Hi Carol, Hi Terri.
Eggs rolled and seeing the P moving around a little is good. Probably conserving a lot of energy these days.
Bob,
(copied from Forum, todays date)
I see that you stop in here now and again. Thanks for the opportunity to be apart of the Black Vulture Cam. To share and learn along the way.
I haven’t watched daytime tv for weeks now. I like feeling that we can help from a distance. In the morning, it is high hopes and coffee. In the evening, it is feeling that I accomplished something. No matter how small, it is all good.
Lynn
Just got home from a teaching day, and what a wonderful surprise – an egg roll. The image is so sharp, Bob, and the lighting is great. Can’t wait for the close-ups. Very difficult to tell which adult is on the eggs from this vantage point, but still appreciate everything that has been done.
Lynn and all, I will post the screen capture to Forum with the time stamp.
Nice
We’ll try for some close-ups again when (if) the eggs are rolled into view of the camera with zoom capability.