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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:40 pm
by Marbzy
And back into the burrow:
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Egg inspection?
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And the snow kept falling...
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:43 pm
by Marbzy
Is it Christmas yet?
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Apparently not!
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The periscope is out again:
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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.
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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)
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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
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: March 31st, 2020, 11:52 pm
by Marbzy
Should I just slide down into the hole?
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The talons are out to cope with an itch
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Finally, the perfect route is discovered
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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
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Still it's hard not to feel for this brave buitre negro
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It got a little warmer in the evening
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 1st, 2020, 12:09 am
by Marbzy
And the snow started to melt
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But it's still very wet out there
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And these conditions are far from perfect, if you're an egg
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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?
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The young male has been at the nest for more than 24 hours
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The vigil continues
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:12 pm
by Marbzy
The snow came back with a cameo
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Is something cooking?
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Physical exercise over the egg
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:16 pm
by Marbzy
The banded leg
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The bum is up
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Shall we play some football?
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:20 pm
by Marbzy
The male resumes his duties, but is growing restless
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He knows something is about to happen
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Change is round the corner
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 1st, 2020, 10:23 pm
by Marbzy
But the usual procedures are broken
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The egg is briefly left unattended
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Fifteen seconds after the male's departure the female comes flying in like a bullet
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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...
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... when the male storms back to the nest
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He's brought her a thank-you twig
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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
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He duly leaves the nest
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And the female lies down in the middle of the white ring
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 1st, 2020, 11:15 pm
by Marbzy
Two hours later a companion arrives
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And another
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SEO BirdLife explain that these are likely non-breeding members of the colony. Neither visitor is the incubating female's partner
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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
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The visitors leave one by one...
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... in the space of five seconds
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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
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This visitor is in no hurry
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But he eventually decides to spend the night somewhere else
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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
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Her pancake act is top-notch
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Another inspection
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 10:55 pm
by Marbzy
A changeover was performed in the (late) afternoon
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The "legitimate" male arrived at 17:38
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The female was initially in no hurry
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Re: Vultures all over the world

Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 11:00 pm
by Marbzy
But once she'd risen...
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... she sprang onto the branch in front of her...
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... and was gone in a matter of seconds
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