Looduskalender

12:18 This is vigorous exercise with energetic and well-coordinated wing beating


12:54 At times it seems that the chick is just about ready to catch the wind under the wings and float away...


12:57 Wait. Who's this?

12:57 It's not a parent - it's T20 (seen here on 7 February with the chick still in the shell)


12:58 A tentative initial exchange of pleasantries (T20 jabs in the chick's direction, the chick jabs back - no direct contact is made) does not escalate


13:00 The chick raises his/her head to keep an eye on the intruder

12:54 At times it seems that the chick is just about ready to catch the wind under the wings and float away...

Beautiful! That looks promising. The little one can!
I didn't want to break your documentary but it had to get out.

13:02 As the guest does not behave aggressively, the chick begins to explain to T20 that (s)he would prefer to be left alone


13:03 Tension mounts as the guest moves his/her beak over the chick's tail


13:04 Will you please go away?

13:04 The chick the gets up but lowers his/her head submissively


13:06 T20 copies the chick's pose


13:07 The guest appears quite harmless now

13:10 The chick's comfortable enough to lie down with his/her back exposed (T20 is busy performing self-pedicure)


13:11 It's almost a shame the chick cannot take advantage of T20's crop


13:13 T20 is a four-year old (probably male) who has not found a partner yet. This vulture has a record of being found poisoned, rescued and released back into the wild in 2018

13:17 Back in January T20 was observed trying to take over a couple of nests - his (her?) mating time has not come yet


13:18 The chick lifts his/her head


13:32 Finally, (s)he gets up from the floor

14:32 Dad's just arrived


14:33 Father feeds the chick quickly


14:34 That's enough

14:48 Reinvigorated, the chick exercises even more zealously


14:50 Just pick your favourite shot


14:52 OK, this one's a bit static

17:13 Back to learning by watching


19:01 The evening passes quietly


19:16 Getting ready for bed?

21:17 Good night!


A member of the BirdLife Israel crew expects the chick to fledge at the age of 130-140 days. We could be stuck here another month or so...

The chick is 95 days old today.

The weather outlook is quite sensible. The next four days should see daytime temperatures in the mid to high 20s. At nighttime, temperature will drop to around 10 degrees centigrade. Once the chick turns a 100 days old, temperatures will soar above 30 again. Some fresh breeze would be useful then.

28 May

01:18 Sleeping up


02:20 Sleeping down


10:27 Hello, pigeon!

11:53 This is just relatively ordinary stretching


12:02 And here the chick is taking a bow before vulture gods


12:55 Asleep in broad daylight (and amid all the noise, including that coming from other vulture nests!)

13:23 It's you Mom, bringing lunch, isn't it?


13:23 But no, it isn't Mom - this is a stranger with labels that cannot be read


13:25 Following a violent exchange of jabs (directly after the visitor's arrival), there's a ceasfire, but the two birds keep watching each other closely

13:25 And then the guest leaves


14:00 A new visit - this time it's T99 (just arrived) - and it's an unusually brief encounter


14:00 The guest takes off without coming anywhere near the chick

14:26 Finally some activity from the chick


14:27 Wing exercises are mixed today...


14:28 ... with gliding practice

14:29 Mom's homecoming produces a nervous reaction from the chick, who pecks aggressively at Mom as she approaches - Mom retaliates and things get back to normal


14:29 The little one lets Mom come closer


14:30 And then Mom is allowed to attend to her parental duties

14:31 There's no stopping the chick now


14:31 The chick is shaking his/her whole body to motivate Mom


14:32 There's more food in the pipe

14:33 See you later, Little One


14:33 The chick keeps asking for food


14:35 Not asking - demanding!

14:36 Holistic begging...


14:38 It's sinking now that Mom's gone


14:40 And that she's not coming back