Spartan Stadium Falcon Cam

The Pantry wrote:Wonder if it will be only 3 this year?

This is pretty cool

Poop patrol ahead of NFL Draft: Hawk, falcon used to keep downtown Detroit clean

Read in another story the owners of ScAir Force live in the Lansing area.

She laid four eggs two years ago (only three eggs hatched). She laid 4 eggs last year all of which hatched. My guess would be four.

I do not know what to make of the lighter colored egg. Last year's eggs were all darker brown as were the eggs in 2022 - similar to the eggs 2 and 3 this year.

MSU addict wrote:

The Pantry wrote:Wonder if it will be only 3 this year?

This is pretty cool

Poop patrol ahead of NFL Draft: Hawk, falcon used to keep downtown Detroit clean

Read in another story the owners of ScAir Force live in the Lansing area.

She laid four eggs two years ago (only three eggs hatched). She laid 4 eggs last year all of which hatched. My guess would be four.

I do not know what to make of the lighter colored egg. Last year's eggs were all darker brown as were the eggs in 2022 - similar to the eggs 2 and 3 this year.

Per the webcam info, the current nest started streaming Dec 2022. Was there another YT nest/site/cam?

MSU addict wrote:The vast majority of a Peregrine falcon's diet is other birds.  They do occasionally eat small mammals but they are designed to hunt catching birds mid-flight.  It is what they do best.

As for hawks. it really depends on the type of of hawk.  Most hawks (like Red-tail hawks) feed on rodents and other small mammals, Cooper's hawks feed more on birds.

FWIW, eagles in general prefer fish.

Local HS has Red Hawks as a mascot, so likely mostly hawks around here. First eagle ever noticed in the wild was cruising over Muskallonge Lake with Lake Superior just across the road, so that makes sense.

The Pantry wrote:

MSU addict wrote:She laid four eggs two years ago  (only three eggs hatched).  She laid 4 eggs last year all of which hatched.  My guess would be four.

I do not know what to make of the lighter colored egg.  Last year's eggs were all darker brown as were the eggs in 2022 - similar to the eggs 2 and 3 this year.

Per the webcam info, the current nest started streaming Dec 2022.  Was there another YT nest/site/cam?

I know this is the third year I have been watching the box on Spartan Stadium.  The MSU Fisheries and Wildlife Club website says that the box was installed in January 2022.  There is history from 2022 and 2023 online.  

​Spartan Stadium Falcon Box

Mom looks like she's finally settling in on the eggs.

Not sure the light source this time of evening.  The reflections make for cool pictures.  

We have a fourth egg.

Damn, can make an omelet.

I guess they really liked the results last year.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Damn, can make an omelet.

Have you ever tried an Emu egg? You only need one.

Lot of noise at/around the stadium currently. Mom looks antsy.

Is the team practicing in the stadium?

tGreenWay wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:Is the team practicing in the stadium?

Probably some times. I’m talking about the scoreboard being on at 3 and 4 am.

UofM does that, and keeps part of the field lights on, too.  Insurance reasons, maybe?

Trapper Gus wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:


Probably some times. I’m talking about the scoreboard being on at 3 and 4 am.

UofM does that, and keeps part of the field lights on, too.  Insurance reasons, maybe?

That's so they can see when the sewer starts backing up into the big hole

tGreenWay wrote:

The Pantry wrote:Lot of noise at/around the stadium currently.  Mom looks antsy.

I’m still trying to figure out the lights facing the nest. Near as I can tell, it must be coming from the scoreboard. I didn’t know they left that on at night. They didn’t used to.

Remember seeing lighting obviously from inside the stadium on the nest last year.  Lighting this year sometimes looks like it's coming from outside the stadium from the SW side. No idea what/why light(s) would be in that area to light the box up that way. Part of the clubs' upgrade?

Speaking of bird porn, I got to see this in the field behind my house a week or two ago. I told the family, no one cared.

Jake from State Farm wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:


UofM does that, and keeps part of the field lights on, too.  Insurance reasons, maybe?

That's so they can see when the sewer starts backing up into the big hole

I just put the block M parts being lit up as part of their narcissus vib.

Checked back.  Couple hours ago.

Mom and dad have been focused.  I'm predicting May 1 in the AM for the first egg hatch.

The Pantry wrote:Mom and dad have been focused.  I'm predicting May 1 in the AM for the first egg hatch.

Mt Clemens pair have two hatchlings already, but I'm not sure when mom laid the eggs, so they might have had a head start.

https://www.earthcam.com/usa/michigan/clinton/?cam=macomb_falcon

The Pantry wrote:Mom and dad have been focused.  I'm predicting May 1 in the AM for the first egg hatch.

Definitely in the range. Last year she started incubating on March 29 and the first egg hatched April 30 - 32 days. This year she began incubating on April 1, so I will go with the morning of May 3.

Checks the spreadsheet
....
That checks out.

MSU addict wrote:

The Pantry wrote:Mom and dad have been focused.  I'm predicting May 1 in the AM for the first egg hatch.

Definitely in the range. Last year she started incubating on March 29 and the first egg hatched April 30 - 32 days. This year she began incubating on April 1, so I will go with the morning of May 3.

The way the 1st egg to drop was initially treated makes me wonder if it will hatch, at all.

The Pantry wrote:

MSU addict wrote:Definitely in the range.  Last year she started incubating on March 29 and the first egg hatched April 30 - 32 days.  This year she began incubating on April 1, so I will go with the morning of May 3.  

The way the 1st egg to drop was initially treated makes me wonder if it will hatch, at all.  

If you are referring to them basically ignoring it, that should not be a concern.  It is what falcons do.  Falcon eggs can survive at least 8 days before the start of incubation.  Once incubation begins it does have to be continual the eggs can then be left to the elements only for short periods of time.

I believe the first egg is the light colored one.  From what I have read, the color does not matter and that also should not be a concern.  Falcon eggs tend to be lighter colored as the female ages and I know she is believed to be rather old for a falcon.  

Weird fact - the only animals that experience menopause (a female living beyond her reproductive years) are humans and some species of toothed whales.