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| Parents chasing off 5Z; Why are they doing this? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 30 2012, 07:37 AM (689 Views) | |
| jeannec | Jul 30 2012, 07:37 AM Post #1 |
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Dr. Sharpe, I went through yesterday's archives to get a clearer look of yesterday's action at WE hoping to get something that would definitively ID the untagged juvie as 5Z. Here are three stills, and you can see what looks like a silver band on the left leg. So the juvie that has been repeatedly chased off the nest the past week or more does look to be 5Z. My question is - *WHY* would the parents reject one of their own like this at this stage, or do you think something else is happening? Have you seen this behavior before? Both 5Z and K24 look thinner, and 5Z must be very hungry to have attacked K27 the way she did, putting herself at harm in the tumble. I could understand a parent responding to K27's distress in this incident, but they were chasing off 5Z before this happened. Could K-20's appearance the other day have been a factor? This is highly unlike Wray and K01. ![]() Here are the archive links: CLOSE-UP CAM - fast forward to 1:39:33 near the end of the archive segment for when 5Z lands and gets chased off about 20 seconds later WIDE ANGLE, PART 1 -K01 and K27 first touchdown on the nest here at about 1:54:00. They come back and after K27 is on the nest mantling food, 5Z flies in and they tumble down the side. Adult flies in in defense. WIDE ANGLE, PART 2 - the first 6-8 minutes of this archive segment. Adult perches on the peak. K27 lands on the nest and things are fine until 5Z lands on the nest. The adult then flies in and chases 5Z off the nest. |
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| jhm | Jul 30 2012, 08:21 AM Post #2 |
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Dr. Sharpe -- We think the adults have chased 5Z off nest at least twice and I think K24 once. They are occasionally bringing food drops for K27 so do you think with the food shortage they are putting all their efforts into the oldest and most healthy one? If that is the case it sure doesn't bode well for K24 and Z5. It will be almost impossible for them to find enough food on their own. They are both looking thinner. |
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| Eagle Guy | Jul 30 2012, 09:31 AM Post #3 |
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I think it would be impossible to tell if an eaglet is thinner by looking at it on a camera. You have to hold the bird and feel along its keel. They can control their feather movements, so holding them erect vs. against their body changes their appearance. The adults feed the eaglet that is most aggressive towards getting fed first; they don't think about which chick seems most likely to survive because I don't think they have much capacity for that type of thinking. I don't know why or if they are trying to chase off one or more of their chicks. As one who has been dive-bombed by adults, it doesn't look like they are doing that to their chicks. All I saw was an adult fly to the nest when 5Z landed, 5Z jump up expecting a prey delivery and the adult veering off, and then a K27 fly by and the adult following them. Both 5Z and K24 have wandered more than K27, so they are probably more hungry, so that is why they would be more aggressive towards K27 for food. |
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| jeannec | Jul 30 2012, 09:37 AM Post #4 |
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Thanks, Dr. Sharpe - hopefully I am misreading the behavior and there will be some fish for 5Z and K24 - and hopefully we will get to see it! So what are those codes for panning and zooming the cams?? Just kidding, although it would be fun to look around when all is quiet straight ahead!
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| Eagle Guy | Jul 30 2012, 09:40 AM Post #5 |
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Feeding on the nest should be a small portion of the food deliveries at this age. |
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| sparky454 | Jul 30 2012, 03:51 PM Post #6 |
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That is intresting about them being able to control their feather movement. Is that voluntary, involuntary or both? Is that on the whole body or regional? |
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| Eagle Guy | Jul 30 2012, 06:41 PM Post #7 |
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I think it can be both voluntary and involuntary and most of their feathers, including the head. |
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| sparky454 | Jul 31 2012, 05:14 PM Post #8 |
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Thank you, Dr Sharpe. That is interesting. |
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Just kidding, although it would be fun to look around when all is quiet straight ahead!
11:01 AM Jul 11