(no subject)

[daphnep]

My dream was false: baby three is out and relaxing. He still has a curve of eggshell stuck to his butt, but when you look into the nest, you see three fuzzy chicks and the broken shell the last one clawed his way out of.

I got to watch a baby hawk chick hatch, today. That makes a pretty good day, in my estimation.

Comments

[susanjacobson.livejournal.com]

I saw baby #3 make progress today, but then I was in a meeting and my laptop battery conked out. When I looked in later I seemed to see three fuzzy bodies but only two open mouths. I'm glad you saw baby 3 striving along!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

It's cool...they're born with their eyes squeezed shut, and then they open within a few hours. By the time they feed, they've got little bright black eyes, looking out.

I wish there was sound on the camera. They look like noisy little peepers.

[alchmst.livejournal.com]

I watched for 2 hours and didn't even see the mom stir much... I did see lot's of cars, and taxis slip by just on the left of the screen. Does she have a feeding schedule or something?

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

I don't know if she does, yet.

I'm in the habit of just leaving a small window open, reduced just to the camera shot, in the corner of my screen, so if any extreme motion happens it catches my attention.

I saw one feeding at about 7:15 AM and one at 9:30 yesterday, but I've only checked once so far today and nothing's happened. I probably won't have the screen up as much today, because of various work stuff, so I won't have a chance to figure out any schedule.

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

Have you seen them, yet?
I got some screen captures today, if you haven't. Here's one with the whole family: mommy and daddy feeding each other while the wobbly-bobblys wait patiently.

OMG - I just saw them!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

Mama (or Papa?) was standing up in the nest and I got to see all three chicks sitting there. Their bobbly heads were peeking around. then Mama/Papa decided the show was over for me - and s/he very gently checked them before crouching over them and keeping them warm.

BABIES!

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

I only see two eating at the moment. Number three is sleeping.... he just woke up, but didn't feed.

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

YAY! I'm so glad you see them. I haven't been able to watch, much, today.

They're really, really sleepy at first. #2 compared to #1 was lethargic, and #3 is a whole day behind, so he's definitely the baby-est.

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

*phew* I'm glad that it sounds normal.

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

I think so...but then again, I just saw another feeding. I was distracted (damn customers, coming right when mama hawk is feeding) and couldn't really pay attention.

I could tell #3 was moving, but I didn't see him feed. I know #2 took a while to start, but now I'm worrying about the little guy just the same. Meep. Come on, little bird, eat your mousie!!!

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

It's so funny how we get to experience this thanks to the internet. I'm fascinated by it. Also amusing to think that I worry about the wee one considering hawks have been having babies and surviving just fine without my worrying about them. :)

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

I know! I was listening to the birds singing on my walk to work today, and wondered "how many eggs are hatching in this park right now and I don't know it, because those nests don't get a camera and an internet feed?"

And then how many birdies probably don't make it, or fall out of the nest, or get eaten by predators, or simply fail to hatch, and nobody cares (because they don't know.) But if anything happens to any of THESE three little hawkie guys, hundreds of people are going to be devastated...including me.

Re: OMG - I just saw them!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

I know. I had some exposure to wildlife when I volunteered at the wildlife rehab - getting attached is dangerous. But you never forget them... I still think of the blue jay baby I helped feed. It was such a gift (cheesey, perhaps) to be able to take care of him and see him grow his feathers (a very awkward adolescence, I tell you). It's been two years now - I wonder if he's still out there.

Feeding again!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

#1 and #2 ate, #3 didn't eat but his head bobbled up and he looked around, and I saw his little face. His eyes are open. He's looking good.

I want to name them: Wobble, Bobble, and Doddy. For the way their heads go flopping around, all spastic.

Re: Feeding again!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

Which one is #3 then - Wobble, Bobble, or Doddy? I'm glad he's looking around more - maybe he's gaining strength.

Re: Feeding again!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

Technically, Doddy is #3 but now they seem all the same size so I can't tell them apart. He only stood out when he was fresh and weak.

They're so adorable.

Re: Feeding again!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

They are indeed.

They're FINE!!!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

My coworker and I have been watching very closely, this afternoon. What happens is that one will eat a lot on one feeding and then sleep through the next (they're being fed about every 20 minutes right now, extremely active!) So even though only 2 might be active per feeding, they're all three getting food. I wanted to make sure I saw one session where all three were up and begging (peeping beaks) at the same time, and having their beaks filled.

They're fine! No runts in this litter!

Papa hawk has been at the nest a lot, today, too...and for a short while, both mama and papa left and the babies were all alone. Then, two of them got in a pecking squabble.

They need a babysitter, already.

Re: They're FINE!!!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

AH! That makes sense now. It was hard when we were taking care of baby birds (the bird ward made people crazy - you'd be going from "nest" to "nest" feeding babies, and by the time you were done it was time to start a new round) - if you so much as tapped a nest the babies would start gaping their mouths - and they only have so much energy so you feed them quickly or they tire out and don't get a meal. Maybe this is their adaptation (we had mixed nests of orphans - and I never saw a hawk babies before, so they may be different).

I'll have to watch tomorrow!

Re: They're FINE!!!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

Hee - maybe they went out on a short date. I'm glad he's checking in on them. Does he live in the nest, too?

Re: They're FINE!!!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I wonder if he just perches nearby. I never see both parent sleep in the nest (but I've heard some of the other hawk cam watchers say they've seen that.)

I see both of them sitting there, sometimes, or both feeding the babies, or the two parents switching off, but I've never seen them both settled in, chilling out or sleeping together.

Re: They're FINE!!!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

awww. take a screen shot if you catch them!

Hawks, kissing

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

He's there right now, they're feeding the babies and feeding each other.




(Hey! I just learned how to take a screenshot! Yay!)

Re: Hawks, kissing

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

OMG - so cool! A family dinner.

Re: Hawks, kissing

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

Looks like one of them (I can't tell them apart) just brought new leaves for the nest.

Have you noticed the wee ones when they poop? It's so cute - after they eat they kind of wiggle their bums backwards and out pops a poo. (That was always kind of funny when we were working with the orphaned birds - you'd have to clean their "nests". Oddly enough, if the little fecal sacs didn't break - it wasn't so bad. They'd always try to shoot them outside the nest... makes me want to watch out when I'm standing under trees now.)

Re: Hawks, kissing

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

I am strange for being amused by birds pooping, I realize.

Re: Hawks, kissing

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

NO! I have NOT noticed them poop. OMG! I have to look for little birdies taking a poop!

Re: Hawks, POOPING!

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

I SAW IT!

One was wriggling all around, I was laughing at his stumpy little wings. Then he pooped. Pretty amazing, the shooting power on that little birdie-butt. Like a fluffy yet revoting kind of squirt gun.

Re: Hawks, POOPING!

[artemis77.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! They're adorable, even whilst pooping. :)