When the two larger siblings square off in play fights, #3 hunkers down in between and wants no part.
"[Nest cam] Viewers are likely to note an apparent disadvantage attached to the last eyass's smaller size. She will not get as much food as the larger, older and more psychologically developed siblings. This last eyass will appear to be particularly disadvantaged, often being fed last, and with less food.
But all of that is normal. I've never seen or heard of a third, late, small eyass ever failing to grow and fledge normally. The bird will be behind for several weeks, and may not appear ready to fledge (behaviorially) when her two older siblings jump. But again, that's normal.
So don't be alarmed when Mom is seen preferentially feeding the first two, larger eyasses. They are more aggressive in reaching out and plucking tidbits from the formel's bill. The last eyass will be doing this a bit more tentatively, and if one watches for just a few minutes, it will appear that the little tyke just didn't get enough food. Not so. Over the entire day, each eyass gets sufficient and adequate food, but at different times and rates
The only complication --- not likely at the FI nest --- occurs when the tiercel is unable to retrieve enough prey to adequately feed the entire brood. Then, the preferential feeding of the older eyasses takes a toll on the smaller last one. But T2 is a good hunter, and there is plenty of prey for him to catch within a mile of the Institute. Watching this trio of eyasses develop and fledge will, once again, be exciting and rewarding."
--John Blakeman
So far, thankfully, #3 looks healthy and vigorous and is holding its own.
On Sunday, T2 celebrated Cinco de Mayo by bringing a gift of..... leaves!
Carolyn Sutton
He then went for the exacta, bringing in a sizeable rat.
Daryle McCormick
Mom left the nest for a break while T2 stood watch over the sleepy eyasses.
Pamela Raitt
When she flew back to the nest, he did not do the customary crouch at the back to allow her room to land, but continued to stand in the middle, so that she had to land on the ledge beside the nest.
Carolyn Sutton
He was not going to move, and she had to push in behind him onto the nest.
Carolyn Sutton
She finally shoved him towards the front...
Carolyn Sutton
... and then he seemed to get the message.
Carolyn Sutton
Sunday also saw quite a few more play fights between the two oldest eyasses while #3 stayed out of the way down below.
"Knock it off, you two," Mom might be saying.
Pamela Raitt
Pamela Raitt
On Monday, T2 flew in with mud-covered prey, talons and tail.
Kevin Vaughan
Kevin Vaughan
It appeared to be another gosling (webbed feet were a clue). He had decapitated it, which he does to most of the larger prey items he brings.
Kevin Vaughan
T2 is becoming an all-terrain hunter moving from the grassy glades that line the Parkway to the muddy areas along the Schuylkill river banks.
He left the gosling for Mom to feed, and took off...
Kevin Vaughan
... perhaps to the Barnes Museum reflecting pools to clean off those muddy talons.
Kevin Vaughan
Monday's cloud cover allowed for better visibilility on the nest cam, and we could see how well the eyasses line up as they wait to be fed.
Pamela Raitt
As the day warmed up, they spent more time out from under Mom's feathers.
Pamela Raitt
She is feeding them just about every hour, and they eat voraciously then collapse into a food coma.
Tess Cook
#3 often remains comatose (on the right) needing less food than the other two.
Pamela Raitt
By 5:30 pm on Monday, all three were fed, and their parents had headed out for a break from nest duties...
Della Mica
... and within five minutes, the eyasses were over and out.
Della Micah
When she flew back to the nest, he did not do the customary crouch at the back to allow her room to land, but continued to stand in the middle, so that she had to land on the ledge beside the nest.
He was not going to move, and she had to push in behind him onto the nest.
She finally shoved him towards the front...
... and then he seemed to get the message.
Sunday also saw quite a few more play fights between the two oldest eyasses while #3 stayed out of the way down below.
"Knock it off, you two," Mom might be saying.
On Monday, T2 flew in with mud-covered prey, talons and tail.
It appeared to be another gosling (webbed feet were a clue). He had decapitated it, which he does to most of the larger prey items he brings.
T2 is becoming an all-terrain hunter moving from the grassy glades that line the Parkway to the muddy areas along the Schuylkill river banks.
He left the gosling for Mom to feed, and took off...
... perhaps to the Barnes Museum reflecting pools to clean off those muddy talons.
Monday's cloud cover allowed for better visibilility on the nest cam, and we could see how well the eyasses line up as they wait to be fed.
As the day warmed up, they spent more time out from under Mom's feathers.
She is feeding them just about every hour, and they eat voraciously then collapse into a food coma.
#3 often remains comatose (on the right) needing less food than the other two.
By 5:30 pm on Monday, all three were fed, and their parents had headed out for a break from nest duties...
... and within five minutes, the eyasses were over and out.
And it's over and out from me too!
Posts
I was thinking that even if #1 and #2 are bigger and stronger, if they fill up and go into a food coma first, #3 will be able to ask for, and get, ALL the remaining food while the two bigger siblings are snoring away.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, there's no shortage of prey items and T2 is a dedicated provider.
That's exactly what happens, Donna. All the #3's have made out just fine once the big guys fall asleep.
DeleteThanks again for the update! Please - you and your photographer friends do a picture book!!
ReplyDeleteCornell's third eyass is further behind than this nest because the egg was laid 6 days later. But she seems to be doing fine and catching up
ReplyDeleteAnn F.
I enjoy every word of your blogs, Della, and learn so much from them ! Thank you!
ReplyDelete