Spartan Stadium Falcon Cam

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:So with the first egg arriving on 3/24, and my crack research indicating the average incubation period of 29-32 days, then the hatching should occur between 4/22 and 4/25.  Basically, three more weeks.

I'm starting to get nervous. Thinking about stocking up on smokes for pacing in front of the big screen.

I believe your crack research was just a bit off.  The clock begins when the birds start incubating the eggs (essentially laying on them full time) which generally happens with falcons after the third egg drops.  They spend a significant time off the nest with the first two so the eggs all hatch at similar times.  If you google it, you will see ranges to hatch from from 28-35 days after they start incubating.  IMO, the 32-35 day range is probably the best for falcons in more northern climates.

She laid the third egg on March 29, so we aren't quite there yet.  My guess would be around May 2-3 for the eggs to start hatching.  It could be a bit earlier, but I would not get concerned until after May 3 or so.

Floyd Robertson wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:So with the first egg arriving on 3/24, and my crack research indicating the average incubation period of 29-32 days, then the hatching should occur between 4/22 and 4/25. Basically, three more weeks.

I'm starting to get nervous. Thinking about stocking up on smokes for pacing in front of the big screen.

I'm curious to see the feeding and heat management once the first chick pops out. Also, the nest has looked pretty clean so far. Wonder what mom and dad will do with the coming broken shells and chicklet poop?

The Pantry wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:

I'm starting to get nervous. Thinking about stocking up on smokes for pacing in front of the big screen.

I'm curious to see the feeding and heat management once the first chick pops out.  Also, the nest has looked pretty clean so far.  Wonder what mom and dad will do with the coming broken shells and chicklet poop?

Raptors chicks don't produce fecal sacs like song birds.  Their poop is liquid and rather explosive.  The nest gets really gross, really quick.  They do try to aim it outside the nest especially as they get older.  Almost all birds remove hatched egg shells from the nest.  The unhatched egg last year was removed when they banded the chicks.  

Thankfully they cleaned the nest in the off season.  It also had to be repaired, one of the side linings fell in.

The Pantry wrote:

Floyd Robertson wrote:

I'm starting to get nervous. Thinking about stocking up on smokes for pacing in front of the big screen.

I'm curious to see the feeding and heat management once the first chick pops out. Also, the nest has looked pretty clean so far. Wonder what mom and dad will do with the coming broken shells and chicklet poop?

It gets fucking disgusting inside the nest. The chicks will try to turn around and squirt their liqui-shit outside, but that won’t be for awhile after hatching. Regardless, it’s going to look like the falcon version of GG Allin lives there.

My eyeballs were in the right place at the right time and I got a screenshot of both parents in nest at the same time just now.

DWags wrote:What’s the gestation period of those eggs?

I originally pegged hatching at between 4/22-4/25, but I started the clock running when the 1st egg was laid when it should have been when they parents started incubating them. MSU addict thinks 5/2-5/3 is more accurate.

Floyd Robertson wrote:

DWags wrote:What’s the gestation period of those eggs?

I originally pegged hatching at between 4/22-4/25, but I started the clock running when the 1st egg was laid when it should have been when they parents started incubating them. MSU addict thinks 5/2-5/3 is more accurate.

The hatchlings are supposed to break themselves free from the inside out. Please, no pegging.

FWIW, looking back at the camera feed I see that both parents seem more restless on the nest today. Not their normal just sitting there. This could be a sign the eggs are beginning to hatch as the parents can hear the baby birds and feel the vibrations of them moving in the egg.

MSU addict wrote:FWIW, looking back at the camera feed I see that both parents seem more restless on the nest today. Not their normal just sitting there. This could be a sign the eggs are beginning to hatch as the parents can hear the baby birds and feel the vibrations of them moving in the egg.

Whichever parent was on the eggs about 2:30 this morning was stirring, too, and I wondered the same thing. Also, when Frandor keeps their parking lights on late or when other lights to the north are on later than usual, it’s damn near impossible to see much in the nest. The lens either sucks or is broken, because I don’t recall that being an issue last year. Something I’d different, anyway.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:I kind of feel like Floyd & Pantry should be honorary grandparents of the little guys.

What? Fuck that. I have my laptop streaming this thing all day and most of the night. Floyd, maybe, but Pantry is a Johnny come lately. I WILL SUE THE BLOODY LOT OF YOU FOR FAKE HONORARY FAMILY TITLES!

Sorry, Pantry. I get a little carried away when it comes to these birds.

tGreenWay wrote:

MSU addict wrote:FWIW, looking back at the camera feed I see that both parents seem more restless on the nest today. Not their normal just sitting there. This could be a sign the eggs are beginning to hatch as the parents can hear the baby birds and feel the vibrations of them moving in the egg.

Whichever parent was on the eggs about 2:30 this morning was stirring, too, and I wondered the same thing. Also, when Frandor keeps their parking lights on late or when other lights to the north are on later than usual, it’s damn near impossible to see much in the nest. The lens either sucks or is broken, because I don’t recall that being an issue last year. Something I’d different, anyway.

Gonna pay for it next year, big spender?

tGreenWay wrote:
Whichever parent was on the eggs about 2:30 this morning was stirring, too, and I wondered the same thing. Also, when Frandor keeps their parking lights on late or when other lights to the north are on later than usual, it’s damn near impossible to see much in the nest. The lens either sucks or is broken, because I don’t recall that being an issue last year. Something I’d different, anyway.

I believe the camera is positioned slightly differently this year.  Last year it was more zoomed in - you really could not see the top of the box and not as much around the sides and the roof of the stadium.

Give and take really.  They do sit on top of the box when they are fledglings and it is nice to see the other parent occasionally fly by and what is going on around the box.  But I would agree the night view is worse than last year.

The Pantry wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:




Whichever parent was on the eggs about 2:30 this morning was stirring, too, and I wondered the same thing. Also, when Frandor keeps their parking lights on late or when other lights to the north are on later than usual, it’s damn near impossible to see much in the nest. The lens either sucks or is broken, because I don’t recall that being an issue last year. Something I’d different, anyway.

Gonna pay for it next year, big spender?

Maybe I will, but I think it’s just a white balance issue. Let’s get someone from the club on here so I can gripe at them.

MSU addict wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:
Whichever parent was on the eggs about 2:30 this morning was stirring, too, and I wondered the same thing. Also, when Frandor keeps their parking lights on late or when other lights to the north are on later than usual, it’s damn near impossible to see much in the nest. The lens either sucks or is broken, because I don’t recall that being an issue last year. Something I’d different, anyway.

I believe the camera is positioned slightly differently this year.  Last year it was more zoomed in - you really could not see the top of the box and not as much around the sides and the roof of the stadium.

Give and take really.  They do sit on top of the box when they are fledglings and it is nice to see the other parent occasionally fly by and what is going on around the box.  But I would agree the night view is worse than last year.

This seems correct for the examples you gave. Thanks.

Something's going on. Looks like mom is moving around a piece of shell.

Sort of looks like she's eating.

There were 4 intact eggs when they switched out about 3 hours and 15 minutes ago, - but yeah definitely looks like a falcon egg shell she is eating.

Hard to see, but I do believe we have a new chick

Zoomed in



Just after this he/she was moving on its own. Funny to watch her try to move the baby she didn't want to use her beak or talons but that is all she really has.

Mom and dad were both there maybe a half hour ago. I think it's dad in the nest.

A decent picture of the young'n and their first meal.  Also,the white spot on the egg in the center means it is likely starting to "pip" (break through).

Stills around half hour ago.  Chick alone with her egg siblings.  Mom is back, then serving lunch.

Dad has been hanging out on the balcony for a number of minutes. 2nd egg about to hatch?

The Pantry wrote:Dad has been hanging out on the balcony for a number of minutes.  2nd egg about to hatch?

I happened to see dad hanging out and captured it.

Mom appears to be chomping on whatever she brought back earlier.

One of the parents just brought in some good-sized fresh kill. This is gonna be great in the days/weeks to come.

Chick keeping watch over the eggs.  Kinda cool seeing he/she all dried out and moving around.  To be honest, from early looks this morning kinda wondered if mom had eaten it.  

Floyd Robertson wrote:One of the parents just brought in some good-sized fresh kill. This is gonna be great in the days/weeks to come.

Yep, and Bob and I live in the killing fields. Exactly why I keep all of my feeders in the back yard.

This morning it looks like we have 3 babies and one egg remains unhatched.

Chicks are alone right now

The Pantry wrote:Chicks are alone right now

Somebody needs to explain to blanch that you’re talking about birds.

Couple of pics from within about a 30-second span.





Feeding time is going on right now.

I didn't know falcons gave birth to nutsacks.

On a somewhat related note, you guys might appreciate the Loons at Seney Wildlife Refuge. There's a love triangle going on.

Loon Lovers