Deep in the nest cavity, the little white fluff under the breast of the parent is a new turkey vulture chick.
What a treat today! I caught video of the parent turkey vultures during their shift change. We don’t have sound from the nest, yet. We are working on getting the sound up.
During the day we cannot see into the nest from the camera. At night, we can see deep inside with night vision. Fourteen feet to the bottom.
Est. hatch date range: sometime April 15-17. Empty shell pieces indicates hatched chicks.
Happy Hatching!!
Est. hatch date range: sometime April 15-17. Empty shell pieces indicates hatched chicks. the parent is hovering over chick(s). Sorry no images of the chicks, just the empty shells for now. But here is something for you –
Save 15% on No Place for UGLY Birds!
Edit your cart with discount code: 15hatch
Happy Hatching discount code good through 4-22-13.
No Place for UGLY Birds
Brooding turkey vulture in a 14 ft. hollow of a blue oak tree. This image is a composite of 3 photos.
Peering down the vulture hole, I am amazed at the ability of the turkey vultures to climb in and out of this nesting location. It is fourteen feet from the opening to the base.
It is unclear whether this brooding vulture is on eggs or new chicks. It should be nearing time for the eggs to hatch, if my calculations are correct. On March 5th & 6th , I recorded the pair breeding at the entrance and the female retreating inside the nesting cavity. I am making an educated guess that this was around the time of laying their eggs. Most sources site 34-40 days incubation. Sources are vague on the day count, but in all fairness who counts days for vultures hatching? The UStream Missouri turkey vultures incubated for 34 days in 2012.
Both parents incubate the eggs and share in raising the chicks. I do not know when incubation began for this pair.
So for now, all I know is…
Tukey-vultures Are Residing Down Inside Shelter.
TARDIS…bigger in the inside. 😉
Today I had the honor of manning the booth for Red Tail Publishing at the 13th Annual Run for the Wild and Open House for Shasta Wildlife Rescue.
Shasta Wildlife Rescue provides restorative care to wildlife in Northern California. Last year, this dedicated group of volunteers cared for over 1500 wild mammals and birds. It is their goal to rehabilitate the critter and return it to the wild where it can live out its life. As you can imagine, this takes a lot of time and a lot of funding. Today’s even is their annual fundraiser.
It starts early in the morning with a “Run for the Wild” and “Cash for Critters” followed by an “Open House and Baby Shower.”
A lot of people from the local community turn out for tours of the facility and to view the ambassador animals. Some of the animals rescued are not able to return to the wild, such as a bird that can no longer fly, or a fox that has been so imprinted on humans it cannot survive in the wild.
These are wild animals, they are not pets, and because of their life situation, they cannot live in the wild. These animals are cared for by trained people who are licensed by the State Department of Fish and Game to care for the animals for the remainder of the animal’s life. It is a commitment of heart, time and treasure.
So for all of you out there seeking a little bliss, consider supporting organizations like Shasta Wildlife Rescue in your area.
Even better… volunteer. Your world will be richer for it.
Here are some pictures from today. THANK YOU Norma Livingston, for being a good sport and shooting some candid pictures of the event.
“Sunny,” a turkey vulture too injured to soar with his feathered kind, is a little camera shy.
The care taker of an injured red-tailed hawk answers questions from the public.
This child is very curios about the owl and red shouldered hawk.
A great horned owl
This gray fox was kit-napped as a baby. He is too imprinted on people to live on his own in the wild. As sad, to often occurring situation.
Face painting and other fun for the kids (small and tall). The RTP booth is in the back.
Each exhibit at the event provided valuable information about wildlife rescue.
The Red-tailed hawk is the most common buteo (hawk) in North America.
All of the care takers were happy to answer questions.
Another volunteer helped visitors make pine-cone bird feeders.
One of the volunteers, absolutely ecstatic to purchase a turkey vulture plush.
Usually other illustrators and authors of Red Tail Publishing books attend events. Due to unavoidable situations, I was the only one able to attend today. My MIL, Norma, was kind enough to join me.
On Saturday, April 6, I will be at Shasta Wildlife Rescue for their 13th annual SWRR Run for The Wild held together with the Open House and Baby Shower. At Anderson River Park, in Anderson, CA.
Be sure to see “Sunny” the turkey vulture, their very own Ugly Bird ambassador. Sunny was kind enough to show me how a turkey vulture moved and held itself.
So…if you are in the area, stop on by and say “Hi.”
No Place for UGLY Birds
Turkey vultures check out a dead rat.
Exciting news, especially for those of you in Hinckley, OH. My new picture book, No Place for UGLY Birds, will be available at EarthWords Nature Shop in time for the Annual Return of the Buzzards!
No Place for UGLY Birds
Not in my backyard
Scotty lives in a quiet little valley where not much exciting goes on. That is, until the day his neighbors decide the turkey vultures are too ugly.
No Place for Ugly Birds – An amusing story with unintended consequences.
Story – 763 words
Turkey Vulture Critter Chit-Chatter™ – 278 words
written and illustrated by Mary A Livingston
32 pages, 763 words
Red Tail Publishing
Hard Cover ISBN13: 978-0-9847756-7-5
Soft Cover ISBN13: 978-0-9847756-8-2
A pair of turkey vultures at the threshold of the nest cavity.
Early in the night, just after dark, a raccoon visited the turkey vulture nest tree. It climbed up the backside and over the top. Paused a moment at the cavity opening, then was on its way. I worried when I first saw the intruder, a nest raider for sure. I wondered if the vulture eggs would be safe down inside the tree cavity? Will this night bandit be back?
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I am uncertain as to how well this will work. Today Tim and I set up a camera to watch the turkey vulture nest. Since they have already returned to the nest, we set it up at a distance. Hopefully, we can catch them coming and going at the entrance.
The nesting spot is located deep in the cavity of a hollow tree. We measured last summer and it is 14 feet down. We have no way to set up a camera inside of the nest cavity short of drilling a hole in the tree trunk.
After some time, I may mount a camera on a pole and raise it to the top of the nest to attempt to sneak a few shots of the inside; but for now, we will keep it at a non-disturbing distance. So far, no images to share from the nest cam itself…I will keep you posted.
Tim and I head out to set up the vulture cam.
We figured we were close enough. Photos by my niece, Paige Donahue.
Just a few tweaks to the camera angle. Photos by my niece, Paige Donahue
A few final tweaks to secure the camera. Thanks Paige for taking the pictures!
Sneaking Bliss 