Monday, June 3, 2013

Sssteamy hot in Philadelphia

We are in the midst of a heatwave in Philadelphia with several days now of temperatures in the 90s.  The eyasses definitely feel the heat, and pant to keep cool.

          Kay Meng


There are no head feathers yet (taken on May 29) - just fluff - which indicates they are nowhere near ready to fledge.  By the time this eyass fledges, there will be no head fluff at all.

          Kay Meng


In addition to panting, they sit back and hold up their (huge!) feet for maximum cooling.

          Kay Meng


Today (June 2) Mom tried to stay cool by letting her wings droop down and away from her body.

          Della Micah

I asked John Blakeman if this extreme heat causes distress for the eyasses, and whether their later hatching this year which will take them well into June's summer heat before they fledge will be problematic.

John Blakeman's reply:

"Take no concern for the excessive heat. Red-tails experience much greater heat in the deserts of the West. They are uncomfortable, but can handle it. In fact, they turn down their metabolism and body temperature, thereby requiring less food. But most of the food, now, of course, will be used [for the eyasses] to grow new feathers and muscles.
And the same for the summer heat. A matter of no real concern. The later fledge time changes really nothing. As before, all will be well."


Kay's pictures from May 29 show some important developmental milestones.  The two older eyasses show the beginnings of the beautiful chestnut peach coloring on their chests...

                         Kay Meng


... and their tail feathers - black and brown barred - are clearly visible.

          Kay Meng


The eyasses are completely unfazed by people photographing or watching them from behind their window.  More than anything, they are curious to see what's going on back there.  This eyass inched as close as it could to the glass...

          Kay Meng


... and this one stepped across the nest as Kay changed the lens, watching her every move.

               Kay Meng


Mom flew in several times, mostly staying only for a minute or so.  She too was unbothered by visitors near the nest.

                                      Kay Meng


On one of her visits, she started to preen the eyasses, stripping out bits of fluff.  They looked about as uncomfortable with this attention as any child would when a parent is fixing its appearance in some way!

                                     Kay Meng


This eyass couldn't completely swallow down the huge chunk of bird it had gobbled, leaving a morsel hanging out of its beak.

                      Kay Meng


Their growth rate is phenomenal.  It's hard to believe that only four weeks ago they looked like this!

          JB Mayberry


Over the past week, their feathers have really started to grow through the fluff, and their appearance seems to change daily.

May 26
Just a few feathers poking through at the edges of the wings.

          Scott Kemper

          Carolyn Sutton

          Carolyn Sutton


May 28
In addition to many more feathers on the wings, this eyass's bulging crop shows it had just dined extremely well.

           Kevin Vaughan


The all-important flight feathers along the edge of the wings are getting longer.

           Kevin Vaughan


May 29
Entering the Baby Vulture phase.

           Kevin Vaughan


May 30
Seriously impressive wing feathers now.

          Carolyn Sutton


May 31
Their bodies are now almost completely feathered, but their heads remain covered in fluff.

           Kevin Vaughan


Another important stage they reached in the past week is vigorous wing flapping - wingercizing! - which is essential to develop the muscular coordination and strength needed for flying.  At first, most of the flapping is done facing into the window with their backs to the street.

          Carolyn Sutton

           Debi Rabin


As they become stronger and more confident, they start to turn out.

           Kevin Vaughan


When they face forward to flap with their backs to the window, they are closer to the time when they will start to flap-jump off the nest and onto the ledge that runs alongside.


            Pamela Dimeler


           Kevin Vaughan


Here's a timeline from May 22 - June 2 that shows many of the daily events on the nest.

May 22
The family still fits fairly comfortably on the nest.

          Kathy Brophy Holmes


May 23
No feathers yet.

           Pamela Raitt


May 25
Two days later, and what a change with feathers clearly showing!  #3 in the middle had managed to snag a huge chunk of food, and was having difficulty swallowing it down.  Mom is always ready for these occurrences, and if necessary, will pull the food out gently, and start over.

        Tess Cook


May 26
The eyasses show increasing curiosity about the world down below...

           Scott Kemper


... and move closer to the edge of the nest.

          Scott Kemper


May 27
Family time on the nest.

         Ari Rosenthal


A lovely moment caught by Ari Rosenthal as T2 carefully feeds one of his eyasses.

           Ari Rosenthal


May 28
Everyone has feathers now!

          Della Micah


It started to rain that morning, and after breakfast the eyasses huddled closer and closer to stay warm.

          Della Micah


Later that day, Kevin caught these amazing images of Mom landing on the nest, showing the aerodynamic control she has to put on the brakes and land softly beside the eyasses.  What cannot be conveyed is the sheer speed of her approach when it seems that she must crash into the window.

           Kevin Vaughan


                                 Kevin Vaughan


May 29
T2 has everyone lined up nicely waiting to get fed.

           Kevin Vaughan


Then Mom flew in with greenery...

           Kevin Vaughan


... and the food service must have slowed down, so this eyass took matters into its own beak.

           Kevin Vaughan


May 30
An alternative to waiting your turn is to grab from your sibling.  Mom does not look pleased!

          Pamela Dimeler


Standing tall to look out...

            Kevin Vaughan


... and leaning forward.

          Pamela Dimeler


May 31
Not much body fluff left now.  #3 in the middle still has fewer feathers, and a slightly smaller head.

            Kevin Vaughan


Because they spend so much time sitting down, the down on the backs of their legs has worn off.

            Kevin Vaughan


The chestnut peach coloring on their chests is spreading.

           Kevin Vaughan


June 2
Today, the first traces of head feathers are showing.

          Debi Rabin


Each days ends with Mom settling on the nest, keeping watch as night falls.

May 28
           Kathy Brophy Holmes


May 29

           Pamela Raitt


June 2
         Della Micah



2 comments:

  1. Fascinating as ever. Thanks!

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  2. Great coverage! As you know the NYU eyasses fledged like the Three Stooges over the weekend, landing in bushes, hiding atop very tall buildings, walking across the street, standing on a UPS truck (after leaving the windshield wiper of an NYU Security vehicle). NYU, Parks personnel and the local hawk fans really stepped up to the plate this year in terms of vigilance. Fingers cross that all goes well...Ann Feldman

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