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.
Second feeding beak to beak and another shift change.
Close up look, pip is slightly larger.
Coming along, hard days work for the chick.
Beak to beak feeding in the nest area.
Pip! On a sunny morning, notice the egg tooth!
Fantastic day in the works. Pip is still small.
Beautiful lighting this morning. Look at those eyes!
Pip.
Pip
Pip, left egg, top left corner.
Female, listening. Created a nice little nest bowl. Pip is visible.
Fantastic! Pip. The male gently puts the tip of his beak in the pip.
Shift change, female exits, she hesitated and they each had the heads down.
Shift change occurred this morning, the female arrives and after a wonderful greeting to each other she exits soon after.
Memory Lane, adding this here and now, it’s from 4/25/2013. One of the adults was teaching Stevie to sleep upright. Too cute. But, seeing it in a still photo, looks like a bald eagle.
Adding from 3/30, the male. Doing the same. The last couple days, they stand and look at the eggs a lot. No more rolling, although they do each have a preferred location and they each move the eggs from time to time, maybe half their body length.
Adding from 3/29. In IR eggs look solid white. Female was awake a lot, standing, laying… repeat.
Comparison, female above, male below. Her beak appears thinner, more pointed and a tiny bit crooked. She has a deep V brow.
I came across a black vulture while going through an abandoned house. . . it came out of a closet – then ,when l gave it space , hopped over and flew out the window …l looked in the closet and saw two eggs on the floor …..l left quickly – hoping to allow it to return . . . . .
Sharp cam view and lighting, the pretty specks on the egg showed up dark and looked pip-ish.
That being something that resembles a pip but probably isn’t.
Had me going for a minute…
Amazing to watch them lower their heads, listening.
A bit grainy photo, but her toe is more visible.
Female and two beautiful eggs. Since yesterday, both adults seem to be “listening” to the eggs.
Have seen each of them appear almost startled, then they stand and look at the eggs.
Got a bit ahead of myself jumping from 3/22 to 3/26.
Will add a few more from 3/25. Female with the eggs.
Notice the right foot, middle talon. 1 of 2.
Checking the eggs, stretching and preening the adults move them around occasionally, but a lot less rolling going on now.
3/22 and 3/26 both photos are the male.
Thank You Bob, Cam is repaired and back On Air…
Looking at the last two photos, not much has changed.
Good. But, inside the eggs a lot has been happening with high hopes.
Male, right middle talon is long.