MISC BIRDS ~ 2016-2024

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Phoenix continued egg duty today and took his usual break. The bobcat visited the Big Sur sanctuary again.

Redwood Queen made the front page with her portrait and an article in "The Carmel Pine Cone".

Ventana Wildlife Society
https://www.facebook.com/Ve...
Friday, March 12, 2021 @ 1:01 pm
"Celebrity condor Redwood Queen is featured on the front page of the Carmel Pine Cone today!"
"Condor lays egg in tree burned in Dolan Fire" by Chris Counts.
The Carmel Pine Cone (PINECONEARCHIVE.COM )
http://pineconearchive.file...

Click on article to enlarge.

Scroll down to 15 to finish article if you want.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Phoenix continues egg duty. He took about a 3 minute break today that I am aware of. The bobcat showed up for awhile at the Big Sur Sanctuary. Redwood Queen does not seem to make routine visits there to eat. Before nesting it seems she only rarely showed there and I haven't seen her there for her days off from egg duty.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Oops, Phoenix got hungry and left the egg early this afternoon and went to the Big Sur Sanctuary to grab a bite. He was gone for a little over 1 1/2 hours. He was back on the egg before Redwood Queen did a flyby late this afternoon and then they did the nest exchange, so Redwood Queen is back on egg duty. I think he went back to the sanctuary to eat more. Screen capture of Phoenix sneaking lunch by Cali Condor:

Here is a photo from the Oregon Zoo that shows the size of a condor egg posted by Betsy at explore site:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Redwood Queen continued incubation duty. Phoenix was spotted eating at the sanctuary. The bobcat paid another visit to the sanctuary, too. They are having trouble with the cam and explained below, also a really great new cam view.

Ventana Wildlife Soc Mod • 5 hours ago
Hi All, the nest cam appears to be stuck in night vision mode, it could be from the cloudy/dark conditions or the IR sensor is partially blocked. We suspect it has something to do with today's harsh windy, cold, and wet weather. It should correct itself, time will tell. If not, we will journey to the nest and check on the camera.
Redwood Queen is holding tight to the nest, she and the egg seem to be staying dry.
We also added a new cam view of the entire nest tree. Enjoy
Keep you posted!
Condor Field Team

And here is the new view posted by Keli loves cats:

Who knew?

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Redwood Queen continued on egg duty today. No sightings of Phoenix.

Statement from VWS on the absence of parents from nest over the weekend:

Well maybe RQ was nearby when Phoenix went out for lunch.

From San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance:

"California Condor Fact Sheet"

"Reproduction and Development", other topics also available.

Photo of the Redwood snag before the fire with a man standing in the nest cavity:

Photographer unknown.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Phoenix took over egg duty today, but it was not witnessed, so possibly happened while on highlights before cam powered up this morning. Here is a very interesting article on a condor double clutch that occurred as the 1st chick (condors only lay 1 egg per season in normal circumstances) was hatching at the Oregon Zoo. Apparently this is a 1st for the scientific community to witness.

Article from ktvz.com:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

The solar cam was on highlights the entire day d/t poor weather in the area and these conditions are expected tomorrow. So, unable to give any reports. Phoenix just started his turn on the egg yesterday, so possibly continued today.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Still unable to report on the nest as same weather conditions continued today as predicted and solar cam unable to come on at nest, but is working at Big Sur Sanctuary and only the bobcat seen today as far as I know. Explanation below on why solar cam works at sanctuary sometimes and not here:

Ventana Wildlife Soc Mod jbk51691 • 6 hours ago
I believe it's a solar power issue. While the wet weather yesterday and today have been great for the central coast, it has been rather dark, and I suspect the camera has not been able to power on. The nest cam is in more of a canyon and receives less sunlight than the sanctuary cam. So, it is possible for the sanctuary cam to be running while the nest cam is stuck on highlights.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

When the cam came up this morning, it was Phoenix in the nest. Redwood Queen made a visit to Big Sur Sanctuary early this morning and Phoenix took a late break from the nest, but made it back. He is there now as night falls.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Phoenix took a break early this afternoon and left about half an hour before Redwood Queen showed up to the front door later this afternoon, so I imagine he saw her in the area and she perched outside cam view before she came in. So Redwood Queen is on egg duty tonight.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Redwood Queen remains on egg duty. The bobcat was at Big Sur this morning. As was Phoenix, but not at the same time, Phoenix showed up later in the day to get a drink. Video of Phoenix at the sanctuary today by Debl:

Phoenix at the water cooler, Is he thinking about getting a drink or looking at his reflection?

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

When the cam powered up and came off highlights today, it was Phoenix on egg duty. So he and Redwood Queen did the nest exchange earlier today. Redwood Queen was seen at the water hole at Big Sur today to bathe. Someone saw her chase her daughter "Kodama" off of it first though. Kodama only spent the 1st 3 months of her life with Kingpin and Redwood Queen d/t a wing injury. The bobcat paid another visit today to Big Sur too.

Kodama's bio with photos from VWS.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Phoenix remains on egg duty. Someone on chat said they saw Redwood Queen at the sanctuary today throwing her weight around and while doing so, scared the golden eagle there away. Usually the golden eagles are not scared away here. Below are 2 photos by Tim Huntington of a very special 15 month old juvie we all know and love, taken in July of 2009 flying overhead in the 1st one and being fed by his Dad #199 known as "The Great One" in the 2nd one. And that juvie is none other than Phoenix!

Click on right arrow to advance for 2nd photo.

"The Great One" (Deceased) Phoenix's Dad. In Memoriam Condor Bios with photos.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

And another nest exchange this morning before the cam powered up as Phoenix was seen at Big Sur Sanctuary at 10:25 am strutting his stuff. Later when the nest cam powered up it took awhile before the condor on the egg moved to where the tag could be seen and it was Redwood Queen. She remained on duty as night fell. Screen capture of Phoenix by Betsy:

Phoenix strutting his stuff at Big Sur Sanctuary this morning. I saw him charge someone this morning and this may have been the start or end of that charge, but I don't remember the time I saw it.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Well that didn't last long! Redwood Queen left a little before 3:30 this afternoon and shortly Phoenix arrived for egg duty and remained as night fell. Seems in addition to the golden eagles, turkey vultures, ravens, deer, the bobcat that visit the fenced in Big Sur Sanctuary a fox does too. Below is a capture by Betsy of one who did last evening and eventually did eat from the carcus:

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

A big surprise early this afternoon, when Phoenix suddenly got up and went to the door listening and looking around and talking, then he flew. Within a few short minutes, who arrived to the door ... Redwood Queen! Why she only went on break yesterday. They must announce their arrival in the distance with vocals. Wish we had sound here. So, Redwood Queen remained on egg duty as night fell. I think we are about a month from pip watch, but it will have to be a big one to be able to see from here.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Phoenix was on egg duty as night fell. Was unable to find time of the nest exchange d/t highlights, but Redwood Queen was still there late morning, so probably at some point this afternoon. The exchanges are coming more frequently for now.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

They are switching daily now. Redwood Queen came in sometime after noon. Below is a gif by Cali Condor of Phoenix sticking his head out of the nest cavity looking for Redwood Queen as she approaches from the left flying above the nest cavity. Maybe he knows she is coming, because he can hear the swoosh of her wings? Still trying to figure out how they know the other one is coming in for a nest exchange before they seem to see them. I read that one of the photographers could hear the swoosh of a condor's wings as it flew above his head. Redwood Queen remained on egg duty as night fell.

A really outstanding gif!! :eggthumb:

And a GHO visited the sanctuary during the night after 4:00 am. Capture by Betsy:

GHO with it's head turned looking our way.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

About mid afternoon, they made another switch and apparently Redwood Queen went to the sanctuary as she was seen near Pixchi of the San Simeon Nine. Pixchi was just released in November with 8 other young condors in San Simeon. She is the first one to make it to the Big Sur Sanctuary. Also, Phoenix had an acorn woodpecker do a flyby and there is a gif below by Betsy. Below the gif is an article with photos on the acorn woodpecker. I was not aware of them until recently and thought it was neat how they make their "graneries" to store their acorns by actually drilling holes into trees and such. It's really something to see their handiwork. And below that is the question about if Phoenix is alerted to Redwood Queen's arrival to the area for the nest exchange by some sort of sound as I asked VWS last night and they replied this morning.

Bio of #966 Pixchi of the San Simeon Nine with photos.

Acorn woodpecker does a flyby of nest cavity.

By Victoria Farrar on Acorn Woodpecker.

"I've noticed Phoenix perks up in the nest and then sticks his head out the cavity looking for her and seems to know she is coming before seeing her. Does he hear vocals from her or hear the swoosh of her wings announcing she is in the area?"

Ventana Wildlife Soc Mod
Good question. While some birds can communicate an incubation shift with a call, I haven't heard condors do that. I suspect that it is mostly visual. Phoenix can probably see her as she approaches the nest area - or at least her shadow. I'm sure the swoosh of her wings also helps. And, there might be other familiar sounds that catch his attention - perhaps the sound of the branch swaying as she lands on her favorite tree, or the alarm calls of the Bushtits as she flies over. I imagine that when you are sitting in one place all day, you become well tuned to the variety of sights and sounds and what they all mean.

SWINWK · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:41 am **Posts:** 12697

Redwood Queen was seen early this morning at Big Sur Sanctuary to eat. But, she did show up later this afternoon for a nest exchange. Phoenix was seen this evening at Big Sur Sanctuary to eat. Redwood Queen remained on egg duty as night fell.

:girlsad3:

Another newer member of the Big Sur condors is #943 a male who hatched in 2018. He does not visit the sanctuary as often as others, but showed up later today with what looked to be a foreign object caught on his lower beak. He attempted to eat, but was not able to, however some on chat say he was able to drink from the watering hole. Below are 2 screen captures by GreytGal-WA showing #943 from this evening and then a video by Cali Condor. This was reported by Cali to VWS.

Phoenix standing at the carcus with #943 close by.

A frontal view of #943.

Video of #943 as he attempted to eat from the carcus.

Bird Cams Around the World

MISC BIRDS ~ 2016-2024

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