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Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:40 pm
by Marbzy
And back into the burrow:
Egg inspection?
And the snow kept falling...
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:43 pm
by Marbzy
Is it Christmas yet?
Apparently not!
The periscope is out again:
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:49 pm
by Marbzy
According to SEO BirdLife Spain, this is the male. They are a little wary, because it's a youngster - he only hatched in 2015 and this could be the first time he's breeding.
But he has soldiered on like a proper macho (Spanish for 'male', the word is used all the time in the chat next to the YT stream)
He got up several times during the day, and each time headed to the bathroom. If it wasn't for this basic need, he likely wouldn't have moved an inch
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:52 pm
by Marbzy
Should I just slide down into the hole?
The talons are out to cope with an itch
Finally, the perfect route is discovered
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:57 pm
by Marbzy
SEO BirdLife Spain claim that some CV pairs lay eggs even at the altitude of 1800 metres asl in minus 20 degrees centigrade, so a wintry spell of this kind is unlikely to do affect incubation
Still it's hard not to feel for this brave
buitre negro
It got a little warmer in the evening
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 12:09 am
by Marbzy
And the snow started to melt
But it's still very wet out there
And these conditions are far from perfect, if you're an egg
This specfic nest is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama (SdG) range at about 1500-1700 metres asl. More rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures (especially at night) are forecast for the whole week. According to SEO BirdLife Spain approximately 30% of eggs fail every season (around a 100 pairs are reported to be breeding in the SdG colony now). I do hope this pair manage to withstand the inclement conditions and the egg remains intact. Fingers crossed!
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:07 pm
by Marbzy
1 April
April's fools?
The young male has been at the nest for more than 24 hours
The vigil continues
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:12 pm
by Marbzy
The snow came back with a cameo
Is something cooking?
Physical exercise over the egg
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:16 pm
by Marbzy
The banded leg
The bum is up
Shall we play some football?
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:20 pm
by Marbzy
The male resumes his duties, but is growing restless
He knows something is about to happen
Change is round the corner
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:23 pm
by Marbzy
But the usual procedures are broken
The egg is briefly left unattended
Fifteen seconds after the male's departure the female comes flying in like a bullet
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:30 pm
by Marbzy
She's only just began to settle on the egg...
... when the male storms back to the nest
He's brought her a thank-you twig
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 11:10 pm
by Marbzy
But after a lengthy shift in atrocious conditions he's earned a holiday
He duly leaves the nest
And the female lies down in the middle of the white ring
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 11:15 pm
by Marbzy
Two hours later a companion arrives
And another
SEO BirdLife explain that these are likely non-breeding members of the colony. Neither visitor is the incubating female's partner
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 11:21 pm
by Marbzy
Such visits pose a danger to the egg. While no fighting normally occurs in the nest at this stage of the breeding season, each time the incubating adult rises to protect the egg and show the visitors they are not welcome, there's a risk of incidental damage to the egg
The visitors leave one by one...
... in the space of five seconds
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 1st, 2020, 11:27 pm
by Marbzy
Another CV lands by the nest, causing the female to rise to her feet
This visitor is in no hurry
But he eventually decides to spend the night somewhere else
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 9:39 pm
by Birdfriend
Thank you for informations and pics, the weather will be warmer now. Hope they are successful.
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 10:42 pm
by Marbzy
2 April
The future Mom inspects the egg
Her pancake act is top-notch
Another inspection
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 10:55 pm
by Marbzy
A changeover was performed in the (late) afternoon
The "legitimate" male arrived at 17:38
The female was initially in no hurry
Re: Vultures all over the world
Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 11:00 pm
by Marbzy
But once she'd risen...
... she sprang onto the branch in front of her...
... and was gone in a matter of seconds