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March 18, 2016 Timelapse
The Summer of 2015 by GinaM
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osprey 07/11/15 squirt
First Sighting
George and Gracie's First Baby
Eggs Over Easy
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First Love
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Hard to Get
Little Brother
Intruder
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Belle’s Journey
Written by Dr. Rob Bierregaard & Illustrated by Kate Garchinsky
Take flight with Belle, an osprey born on Martha’s Vineyard as she learns to fly and migrates for the first time to Brazil and back–a journey of more than 8,000 miles.
IMPORTANT: Messages from osprey experts
I haven’t seen the little guy yet this morning, but I would be very surprised if he survived the night. That sure was tough to watch yesterday, but that whole process is as much a part of the essence of being an Osprey as is eating a fish. It’s part of the life of Ospreys that was rarely seen before we started putting cameras in nests. As hard as it is, we should not label the behavior as mean or cruel. Being mean or cruel implies that there is intent to do harm just for harm’s sake. Those young were responding to a set of stimuli (very little food being delivered to the nest and the presence of a very small young) in a way that evolution has hard-wired into them. It helps ensure their survival. Nature is not cruel. It is harsh, unforgiving, and often random (had the little guy been born 1st, he would have been just as aggressive as was his sibling), but not cruel or mean.
Paul Henry ospreyzone July 1, 2015 at 8:17 am
Thanks Rob for bringing your knowledge and experience to help us all gain perspective here. We are all saddened by the events that unfolded before our eyes and it’s only natural for all of us to feel and express our emotions appropriately. There have been many issues pertaining to intervention which have been discussed amongst us all. There is no doubt in my mind that the right decision was made, to let nature take it’s course. By the way, that doesn’t equate to heartless, on the contrary, nobody feels worse about this then the apparent decision makers. I say apparent, because when all was said and done, and all the issues were properly weighed, there really weren’t any other options. It was clearly pointed out, by experts, that intervening at this stage could have spooked the whole nest to the point of losing all the young. If the little one was saved, and nursed back to health, what kind of a life would it have had, perhaps caged up in a zoo. I remember when I was younger I saw a golden eagle in captivity, caged behind a wire mesh. I could practically see it’s tears. As far as placing the little one in another nest, such a low probability of success would never have justified the possibility of spooking the nest. There’s a piece of me, however heavy hearted, that believes that perhaps it is better to be born free and die free. We mourn for the little one as we marvel at the wonders of nature.
Hello Paul,
Thanks for your query, and you have my admiration for persevering. We know very well how tough your job is, including dealing with an anxious public.
Our policy with our Bird Cams project is essentially “just say no” to pleas for interference. The behavior you are witnessing – while seemingly cruel and heartless to us – is natural for many kinds of birds, especially those that feed on variable, unpredictable food supplies. The little nestling does have a chance to survive, but if it does not then that result was “meant to be” by the nature of Osprey breeding strategy. The wonderful things about these nest cameras also sometimes yield the difficult things for us to watch. As you might know, we actually post a “siblicide alert” on some of our cams where we suspect the possibility exists.
I’m copying your note to Charles Eldermire, project leader for our Bird Cams. He may have some additional comments, and he would be the one to ask if we might be able to use your stored files for biological analysis.
Best wishes, and good luck,
John W. Fitzpatrick
Director, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
It’s also important to acknowledge that intervening can also cause problems of its own—depending on the ages of the birds in the nest, disturbing them can trigger an early fledge. We have restricted the scenarios in which we would even consider intervening to injuries or dangers that are explicitly human-derived. For example, 3 or 4 years ago we were alerted by viewers that one of the osprey chicks at the Hellgate Osprey nest was entangled in monofilament line. We consulted with our partners there (wildlife biologists, raptor researchers, raptor rehabbers) to determine if the monofilament was an issue, and if intervening was both likely to solve the issue AND not have bad effects on the other nestlings. In the end, a quick trip to the nest was scheduled via a bucket truck, the monofilament was removed, and the nestlings all eventually fledged. In that case, all of the permits were already in hand to be studying the ospreys, and we had already discussed how to approach issues in the nest.
Good luck to the young one—hope it all turns out well.
charles.
*******************
Charles Eldermire
Bird Cams Project Leader
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
I’ve been to your site—great cam! And I noticed the runt in the nest. This is just normal Osprey reproduction. It happens all the time and you should not intervene. It’s tough to watch, but it’s how nature works. Ospreys almost always lay 3 eggs and on average fledge between 1 and 1.5 young each year. They stagger the hatch so there is a spread of ages in the young. That way, if food is short, the first-hatched (and therefore largest) will get enough food to survive while the smaller nest mates do not. If all three young were the same size and there was only enough food for 1 young, none of the young would get enough food and they would all die. If there’s lots of food, the smallest will eventually get fed and can survive. These nest cams can show some gut-wrenching scenes. The most infamous perhaps was one of the very first Osprey cams (on Long Island somewhere), where the smallest young died. One of the adults carried it out of the nest and after several minutes flew back into the nest and fed it to the other young. Waste-not-want-not at its goriest. At Hog Island up in Maine just last week a Bald Eagle came in and took the young out of the nest. Last year at another nest, cameras documented a Great-horned Owl taking young Ospreys out of a nest in NJ or MD. All of these things have been going on for millions of years and Ospreys are doing fine.
Rob Bierregaard
Academy of Natural Sciences
Drexel University
http://www.ospreytrax.com
I’ve checked the nest every couple of hours today, scrolling back to see if I missed anything. All I can say is the three of them have stuffed their little tummies. Afterward, they sprawl out because they are so full. Almost like Thanksgiving Day. Thank God, they are all eating well. That includes the parents and even Peanut.
4:38PM EDT…lil one finally got up and was able to get his share from mom who had already fed the other 2 bigger chicks..now all 3 are in food comas 🙂
Just saw that little cutie get fed A LOT of goodies! YES! Bless you Mommie……
4:45 feeding. Everyone is alert and behaving so far fingers crossed
Not sure if little Louie was fed. They all dozed off
1640 on Tuesday and Nod is being carefully fed by Gracie after the other two are full.
#3 received a really good feeding at 16:37 6/14/16
Hey! The little one seems to be passed out and the other two are stuffing their tummies. Did anyone see the little one get fed this time around???
4:30 pm EDT the lil one is just lying there not getting or begging for food…of course the 2 bigger ones are in front of him..making it impossible for him to get his share. .I hope he is okay and not getting weak 🙁
Found the ospreys mid-season last year. Did not have too much time, tho. Much more this year. Am entranced and am grateful to the originators and maintainers of this precious site as well as all of the commentators. Have been watching a good part if the afternoon. Am I seeing correctly–seems to me that No. 3 has been sat on and held prisoner by one of his siblings since at least 3:15 or so and has been struggling to free himself. Neither G came to his aid. Hope his situation improved while I was composing this. Going back to check now!
JoJo
Oh no Lil Bit is crushed under sibs But 🙁
Lil Bit trying to get some shade gets booted by his brothers.
Lil bit was the name of the little eaglet who died this year…I can’t bring myself to call this little one by that name…so for now he will be lil one or lil guy…he is a feisty one and hope that helps him thrive considering he is so much smaller than the other 2. He always gets his share of the food sooner or later…good thoughts for you lil one!! 🙂
Well first of all your talking about some eaglet of somewhere else not even the same kind of bird. So we are going with Lil bit, 🙂
I said I could not bring myself to calling him lil bit…you can call him what you want…I never said you couldn’t …I just won’t.
June 14- 3:19 pm- At about 3:15, Gracie comes in with a stick and lands hard on 2 of the chicks. She landed right on their necks with stick pinning them down for a few moments.
#3 is getting fed now.
I agree Sierra it is Offensive but not intentional
Mike
Just reading through the comments so I guess its official we are going with Lil Bit for # 3. What a great name I love it perfect for him!!! Did you come up with that Granma Mema?
Rachel and Steve are more proactive because they have been at this for MANY years now. 🙂
This little guy is really making me think. He’s got two older brothers who would rather see him dead than full, and I think I’ve got problems?
I’m not at all offended by the names Uno, Dos, Tres. I don’t understand what’s wrong with that – it’s just a translation of one, two, three. How is that offensive? Oh, I’m Latina, btw. 🙂
I thought chick #1 was going over at 1:20 p.m. George is eagle eyed though.
Kathleen: Chick #1 was already in the area, sleeping, when chick #2 made its way over at 1:19:48 pm, coming perilously close to the right corner. And then chick #3 toddled up behind chick #1. George had flown from the nest at 1:13:34 pm and returned to the perch at 1:15:18 pm. Gracie had flown from the nest at 1:18:07 pm, returning to the nest at 1:20:14 pm with a stick and George was still up on the perch. There is a video to tell George and Gracie apart and another video to tell the chicks apart.
To anyone who did not watch last year brace yourselves for the likely scenario that the little guy will probably not make it. It was brutal to watch last year but the two larger ones started to attack 3rd smaller one anytime he tried feed and eventually he died. Nature can be cruel. Hopefully George and Gracie being better parents and better at fishing will be able and willing to feed lil peewee
@1:00 pm Lil Bit ate a good amount of fish
I have some concern that chick 2 is going to go to close to edge and will fall out. The bowl is weak there…hope Gracie keeps an eye out for that..
At 12:43 is really a good look at chicks..its amazing how a couple of days difference their growth size…
Anyone else notice how much more proactive Rachel on explore is then Gracie?
Yes I noticed that Rachel feeds equally but those chicks are closer in size than Gracie’s chicks…the older 2 here are way bigger than the little guy 🙁
Loved the video Granma Mema!! what a great name Lil Bit. Did you come up with that?
Betsy I posted a correction just did not show up yet. ?
Rjoneal: The video stream jumps and goes back in time and you’re making us go forward in time!!! 😀 (Can you peep into next couple of weeks for us and then let us know whether it’s okay to keep watching daily or if we should take a break and come back at a later time??!! 😀 )
So glad to see lil one getting fed at each feeding so far…he managed to be in the right place at the right time…hope it continues…It’s so obvious he is so much smaller than the other 2 and the way those 2 are growing I cannot see him catching up to them. Keep it up lil guy and get your fair share!! 🙂
How cute- G just got through feeding everyone & they’re all in food induced comas, so he gets to finish eating his lunch.
Hi I have seen plenty of food in the nest but I am not seen Lil Bit getting any. 🙁 Has anyone seen him eat?
June 14- 12:48 pm- He’s actually eaten pretty well so far today. Lets hope it continues 🙂
I’m really encouraged at the things I’m seeing with the baby – first, against all odds, he gets out from under his siblings wings yet again and makes his way to the front of the line
next, he actually initiated a pecking of #2, just because he could – his brother seemed stunned. Next, when dad was feeding the brother, he actually TOOK the food out
of his siblings mouth!. This guy is firing on all cylinders.
Thanks Maryann. It’s hard to catch #3 eating. But I am glad to hear is feisty (lol), as tiny as he is. I worry about this little one.
Hi…next time you post could u put down time..so we all can go back and look…chick 3 is really holding his own…
Hi maryann, George eats the head before bringing the fish to the nest. However, sometimes it’s a whole fish, flapping around the nest. That’s sad to watch. What an awful way to leave this world if you’re a fish.
An osprey wallet
9:17:12 geo flies back w/ fish at right front corner … alarms … geo eats some of the fish … looks around … eats … looks around … then at 9:22 begins to feed gra who’s sitting over the chicks on the nest bowl …
9:24 gra backs up off chicks to stand in front of camera facing to the right … geo & gra alarm session at overhead passerby (shadow skims over nest) … then more alarming by geo & gra …
9:25:31 after things quiet down, gra makes her way over to geo … tries to take the fish, but geo isn’t readily giving it up or he loses his balance as she tries to take the fish and knocks into him before releasing it to gra at 8:26:26 , then gra feeds the chicks again while geo stands on the left front of the nest … while gra is feeding them, geo cleans off his beak and housekeeps nearly decapitating chick #1 as he moves a stick!!! (it’s a haha for those who don’t know the difference)
9:28:19 geo up to perch & Gra continues to feed the chicks … ALL of the chicks again … #3 has fallen over and stays down when Gra tried to give it a scrap when cleaning around the nest bowl … then gra continues to feed #1, w/ #2 & #3, who now has its head up, watch, then #2 moves in to be fed & #3 doesn’t seem to be hungry, which is a good thing since it is now at the back of the pack … and then at 9:32 the video skips back to 9:23:40 and we get to see it all over again from when Gracie gets up off the nest bowl before making her way over to George to take the fish from him … before the video catches up w/ itself and continues on (or at least up until 9:33:30 when gra after feeding the chicks cleans the nest bowl when I stopped to post).
Morning Friends. How are the kids today? Can someone tell me if Little Bit ate?
10:12 am EST OK I went back to 8:00 am to watch the wrestling match that someone mentioned. I swear it looked like the little one was trying to join in this time. I know it’s too early to start submitting names, but I’ve started referring to them as Eenie, Meanie and Mighty Moe. The instigator is Meanie and #2 is just as bad, but that little one has sooo much heart. To me he’s Mighty.
June 14- 3:06 pm- I love the name Mighty Moe. Seems to fit the little guy/gal. 🙂
CaroIV glad you pointed out to new viewers to take some time and watch and review from last year. I too recommended that there are plenty of videos out there now on YouTube or previous comments. I really hope some do take advantage of all the info and highlights. We did not have all this last season at first and so many people worked hard to make this site what it is today. It keeps getting better and better thanks to Paul, Aidan,and Landlords. I had not had my coffee yet and said Happy Wednesday and its only Tuesday talking about needing that 1st cup of coffee in the morning. Yikes its and addiction like watching our birds!
This little guy seems better than last year’s peewee.
I agree, Jessica V. This little guy is feisty!! He always tries to get himself up in front of the feeding line. lol I was watching really carefully at the 1:03pm feeding and it seems that some of the pieces of fish that are given to him are just too big for his little beak. I think that’s the issue; he may not be getting as much food because of it. Hopefully he stays strong!! Praying for the little guy. 🙂
True last years peewee was a very ham-handed bird to say the least. This one appears slightly better.
Best feeding yet for all 3 babies. 8:55ish. The little guy his fare share. I am still amazed at the fighting between the two older babies. 2-3 times a day they go at it. Glad they do not join forces and attack the little guy. I assume the great food supply this year is the reason.
it was really great to see chick 3 get his fair share..at 8:55:32 looks like he even pecked at sibling..tough little guy.
9:00 am feeding – so far, #3 made his way to front for food – #2 had a slow start, so the little guy had an initial advantage. Looks like he’s gotton a few good bites so far,
and feeding had just started. I tell you, this little guy has a lot of heart.
How come the fish the George brings back to feed the family have no heads?
George eats the head before he bring the rest to nest; this way he gets a meal too.
The male usually eats the head to ensure that the fish is dead and won’t be flopping around in the nest and possibly hurt one of the chicks. Also, the head does not have the tender flesh that is easy for the chicks to eat.
At around 8:05am EST, chick 1 and 2 are going at each other. I hope they don’t turn on chick #3 in the near future.
Can we PLEASE stop calling the little guy Pee Wee. As a viewer from the start last year this guy doesn’t even come close to being called Pee Wee. Pee Wee didn’t have a shot from the moment he was born due to the fact that George was not supplying enough fish. He is holding his own and doing fine. Matter of fact this little guy is a fighter.
Please don’t be offended not all of us were here last year and I for one love the name Pee Wee it is perfect for him/her. like was stated. New year new chicks. 🙂
8:00amEDT Gracie goes out on a break. And I’m off to work. Will catch up with the G&G+3 show when comments fill in. HAGD everyone !!
…looks like the ‘baby gates’ are being installed & reinforced. George has brought in several loads of reeds, seaweed, & some HUGE branches, which have fortunately missed klonking Gracie or the babes! Gracie’s doing her part in the rearranging, & the nest seems sturdier & the sides higher, than before (awesome, as the chicks have really begun to travel up & out, & away from the ‘egg bowl’, quite regularly, now. It’s been a busy morning, with 2 feedings already (it’s only just after 7 am now!), lil one seems to be very well fed (as are her/his siblings), & content…sweet peace (for US all…hahaha!). Looooove…
…another glorious day, here on the Island.
…oops! I scrolled back, & s’pose I was being overly optimistic, thinking I’d seen 2 feedings, this morning. Well, the babes, one & all, did seem to fill their bellies, with the fish that Dad brought in, early. Gracie enjoyed her ‘alone time’ with George, sharing the leftovers that he so generously brought back to the nest, once the chicks were sleeping.
short stack is so small. I sure hope all goes well for the little guy
I guess watching on rewind has some advantages. I get to watch feedings in full before I jump in with comments. I understand people get anxious, but seeing story in total helps with forming my opinions. Perhaps we all need to take a cue from MRS. WALTER’S CLASS and prepare ourselves for what can happen. People forget, Trey IS much smaller (and THREE days younger than 2) and can’t compete outright. Plus, he doesn’t need the volume of food his sibs can consume.His coping strategies seem to be working so far, and he IS eating.
For new viewers, who didn’t watch last year, please take the time to watch last year’s highlight videos.All very interesting and informative especially The Rescue, and The Summer of 2015 by GinaM. There are also the many pages of previous comments. You can see them listed above the Leave a Comment box (1-34 and previous, which is an additional 34 or so). A lot to go thru, but skimming them might prove helpful. You might understand our reluctance to a new Peewee. In any case, we all have different nicknames for the chicks, which may even change several times before they are officially named.
In addition, there are the different pages of this site.Along the top of page are sub pages listed which may also interest you, like the origins of this nest and site.
I also realized, I have at least 2 ways on my computer to enter this site…one thru AOL and one thru Explorer. So maybe that’s why some of my comments don’t show up. IDK….
And a shout out to MRS. WALTERS for teaching a valuable lesson and to her CLASS for being interested in nature. Hope you guys keep up the watching over the summer and grow with the chicks as they go on in their life’s journey.
Of course, current comments, when they fill in, are always invaluable.
Yesterday Rob Bierregard was on explore.org with a live chat..He answered questions sent in to him on Ospreys. Something that was interesting is that Ospreys really don’t mate for life its the NEST they go back to for life. If the mate does not show up they will take on another. Have been away and thought Chick 3 would not be alive when I came back. This year is very different then last. This chick, I am hoping may have a chance. Last year they beat up on peewee and so happy to see they are leaving him alone..Nature in reality is sometime difficult to watch. Love our family and truly hoping chick 3 makes it, as we all do.
Wanted to add one book to read is Alan F. Poole’s “A Natural and Unnatural History” Ospreys. Very informative..
6-14-16 good morning everyone
At around 6:05 am estimating this morning I woke up to George feeding Gracie on the nest. It’s a little windy out there Gracie kept babies all tucked up under her. George fed her and she got her fill for the moment. Now we just need George to bring in another fish to Gracie so she can feed all the babies.. I have no doubt in my mind he will ,he has been such a good fisherman and keeping the fish supply going. Happy Wednesday. ?
Today is only Tuesday!!
4:56amEDT 6/14 George starts the day…Hands over a fish and Gracie gets down to it. The chicks look patchy, so some first feathers pushing through About 5:06, George brought in a clump of grasses and then had to stand in the way. Gracie had been trying very hard to plug a too big piece of fish in to Trey.He was grabbing but it just didn’t fit! I did see him eat something other than that piece. Uno and Dos didn’t seem too interested. Back to bed for awhile.C
George was in and out and in with his fish tail. He spent some time feeding Gracie and just hanging out. Peaceful morning.
Gina M….Just saw your comment about the aerial battle on the 10th.( Must have missed it previously.) One of these days, I’m going to have to ride out there and see if I can find the nest. I work fairly close, but don’t live out there. It must have been a sight to watch!!!! Their aerial maneuvers are so breathtaking!
9:10pm Thanks for the reminder, Rjoneal. about the dots, but I’m gonna need two pair of my specs(on together) or get a bigger screen to see them !!!! I did look. Digging for another pair of glasses….for tomorrow a.m.
George caught another fish the earlier part of this evening. I forget the time. The two big ones were eating a lot, and I felt bad for the baby. However, eventually they passed out and then she concentrated on feeding the little fella. That was a good sight. They all went to sleep — looking like they drank too much. Too funny. Then, around 8:00 p.m. George flew in with the last fish of the day. They are still too full to eat!!
Around 5:00 pm, chick #3 was getting fed. The other 2 chicks were practically in a food coma.
5:33pm George is feeding one of the babies giving Gracie a break.
Occasionally I have been checking back in hoping to see if the tiniest one is being fed and cared for. Gracie seems to be really trying her best, Thank God. Why doesn’t George help feed? Guess that is not the way with the osprey. The tiniest one just might make it providing the other two keep fighting each other and don’t turn on it. Pee Wee was so abused last year by the two older ones.
Rob Bierregaard
Academy of Natural Sciences
Drexel University
Did a live chat on another website and he mentioned the nest on Norfolk our birds George and Gracie. They were asking him what some unusual behaviors or things that surprised him that he has seen at an osprey nest ? He mentioned the Northfolk nest 1x they had babies and noticed the male would bring in a whole fish last season with head on which is unusual and then he would get in line and the female would feed the babies and then him and that was quite unusual. This was something they never seen before.
CarolV: This is in reply asking if anyone knows how to tell chick #1 and chick #2 apart (chick #3 obviously needs no description [at this time, since I am remaining cautiously optimistic that it will overcome the odds]):
Looking at the back of their heads is no longer practical or applicable as the chicks are changing (never mind the injuries and bruising sustained from their pecking bouts). The chicks gradually change from light brown to dark brown except for the middle of their backs. In addition to the slight size difference, the light strip down the back of chick #1 is narrower and straighter than chick #2’s, plus the strip on chick #2’s back flares out at its back end. In addition, still visible at this time, is the dark strip on the top of their heads which is wider and darker in chick #2. (BTW, the chicks did hatch in the order in which the eggs were laid.)
“Chick Development:
… The buff-colored plumage that the chicks were born with will be replaced with a dense, wooly down when they are about 10-12 days old. Osprey expert Alan Poole calls the wooly period their “reptilian stage,” when “they are black, scaly, and often crouch at danger, reminiscent of their reptilian ancestors.” This second down covering will last another 10-15 days. …
At about 2 weeks old, feathers will begin to replace the down. According to Poole, “First to appear are rusty-golden pinfeathers on the head and neck. Darker body feathers follow slightly later, and primaries, secondaries and rectrices (outer feathers of the wing and tail) emerge at about 20-25 days.” When the chicks are about 30 days old, their growth will begin to slow and they will already be at about 70-80% their full-grown body weight.” from: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/osprey_cam_blog/archives/2004/06/01/index.html
There are excellent pictures at https://www.cumauriceriver.org/pages/ef-slide/ef-01.html showing week by week osprey chick development.
For the benefit of the viewers
https://youtu.be/fw7jmGhZvQM
Such a great feeding day. George is a great provider of fish. The supply seems much better than last year as the fish are much bigger and plentiful. The little one fed well tonight around 5. They have all been eating to exhaustion.
My third grade class and I have been watching Gracie and George this season. We love them! We were so sad to see the new baby not getting as much food, but we were prepared through our research that this may happen. I came on tonight after work to check in on the new family and report back to the children if it was safe to watch from home (in case the babies didn’t fare well). So I was so happy that the baby was able to turn around tonight at 5:52 pm and is now being fed some delicious fish! The ‘lil guy has gotten a bunch good mouthfuls in and even some alone time for about 2 minutes to eat towards the end of feeding time. Can’t wait to check back in on them later.
Ms Walter’s class welcome to our osprey family so glad you are watching.
It is so nice to know you are teaching and learning about our Ospreys. I would like to let you know many of our devoted Osprey zone viewers have videos on YouTube out there that you can show the class that are adorable.
You can also go back in previous comments and you will see lots of videos made there as well, this year we are able to post videos.
Happy Wednesday ?
OOPs Haapy Tuesday !
I watched with my PreK class through August last year and my PreK class,is watching this year. My students are 4. We watched the SWFEC this past season. They have learned how difficult it is for birds of prey to survive. We have discussed the good and the bad, including the rescue of the chick at the nest here last July and E8 this past year, but also the human cruelty at the Jamaica Bay nest. My 4 year olds understand. They have stated, “Nature is never cruel, but humans can be.” This is a phenomenal teaching and learning experience that my r year olds appreciate.
Finally a one on one feeding with mom for the lil one….looks like he is just going to have to wait his turn and will eventually be fed even though it’s hard to watch.
I have to say pee wee II has tried its best to get in there to make sure to get some food. 5pm feeding he was able to get some. Gracie has been making an extra effort also. Sometimes not so easy but she has been doing so good. Haven’t seen near the aggression as last years chicks. It may have a good chance if it would just hurry up and get bigger. 🙂
I watched Trey being fed alone while the other 2 slept @ 5 pm and again at 5:55.
5:55pm Lil Bit Eating 🙂
Awwww Lil Bit ate but did not get a fair share 🙁
Around 16:58 on the camera the little one started to get food. looks the other two are full.
It looks to me that #3 is being deliberately ignored and is giving up. He started out this feeding in front but the taller ones just fed right over him. Now he is turned around and making no effort to feed. It is cruel but my guess is that Gracie and George know that life will be tough outside the nest and they aren’t going to waste their energy on a weak one that probably won’t survive in the real world. It is still hard to watch..
I wrote this about 5:00 pm
Thank heavens the little one got up to mom and got his share after a long 30 min wait…never thought it would happen!! 🙂
YAY!! Pee Wee Is eating @ 5pm!! Im so happy.
4;40 ish feeding little one front and center mouth open and not a bit. He wasn’t pecked at or beaten or pushed aside he was just the shortest and passed over then he turned around faced the wrong way too tired I guess to hold his head up
at 5:00 the little one gets feed
Again the 3rd chick did not get any food…I don’t think I will watch anymore nests with 3 chicks…it’s too hard to watch..he is being completely ignored by Gracie in this last feeding and has no crop…..I don’t think he is going to make it…he looks weak and is much smaller than the others…this is the part of nature I hate as a human. it’s so cruel….so sad..:(
Even when the little guy manages to get up in front of the other two, he just doesn’t get fed. So far in this last feeding at approx. 4:30 pm, I don’t think he has gotten anything. What does a chick need to do to get fed around here?! LOL!!
This is the saddest and cruelest display of nature. There is plenty of fish being brought to the nest. Even when little chick is right in front of her, Gracie doesn’t include him in feeding like the others. What causes this behavior?
It just doesn’t matter where this poor little chick gets a seat for the meal Gracie just doesn’t make an effort to feed her last hatched !! So sad to see this little one sitting there holding its beak open and Mom just passes it by!! 🙁
Yes, 3 does seem a bit inept as was mentioned it seems to give up and try to sleep during feeding times.
Oh I feel bad Lil Bit in front but can reach the food. 🙁
Lil bit showing his spunk. Up in front for this feeding. Hope he gets some.
Same thing as last time. One little chick will not make it. I know its natures way but I can not watch anymore. Survival of the fittest. God Bless the little one!