Mariah’s Fourth Egg & a Brooding Shift Change
It looks like Mariah was laying this egg at the same time I posted my last article! How’s that for timing?
You can click the small image at the left for another view. Careful observers of the cameras, especially Camera 2 (a night vision model), noticed that Mariah frequently changed her position within the scrape last night beginning around 8:15 PM local time. She settled down about five minutes later. That kind of restlessness is often associated with egg laying, so even though the first view of the egg wasn’t available until early this morning, we believe she actaully laid egg #4 around 8:20 PM on the 4th of April. As you can imagine, we’re all very excited here at the Rochester Falconcam!
Will there be a fifth egg? We’ll know in a few days…
In the meantime, here’s a great illustration of a brooding shift change (click the image to see the full-sized version). You can see Mariah “encouraging” Kaver to leave the eggs so that she can brood them. She does this by using a vocalization called a “wail”, which tells Kaver that she wants to take a turn on the eggs! You can read more about that in my article on incubation.
-Jess
April 5th, 2007 at 9:24 AM
Congratulations, Mariah! This is my 4th year watching this lovely couple raise their brood. It is still facinating every year. Thanks, Jess, for the running commentary. It’s very informative.
-Sherry
April 5th, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Watching this pair is so much better than any drama I’ve seen on television. I can’t turn my head as Mariah and Kaver are constantly surprising me. I’m terrified I’ll miss something. Congratulations to the pair on their fourth addition and to all of you at the Rochester Falconcam as well!! I’m sure you all are thrilled. Jess, I love to read your commentary as well. Thanks so much for all the information.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:39 AM
It looks like Kaver is sticking close by this morning. Could this possibly mean that this is the beginning of the incubation period? He’s on standby to keep the eggs warm whenever she may need to “take a break”?
These birds are absolutely beautiful. This is our first year watching them and we are thoroughly enjoying it. Again – THANK YOU!!!
April 5th, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Oh, man! I love that picture of Mariah and Kaver, the changing of the gaurd. It’s beautiful!
April 5th, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Jess — your IMPRINTS articles are EXCELLENT!! Many thanks. I really don’t (and didn’t) have time to keep up with the old Kodak chat stuff and pretty much relied on Jim P’s blog over the last few years. Your posts here are just exactly what I need to keep up with Mariah, Kaver and this years Fab Four (at least for now — who knows, maybe we’ll have the Fave Five again?). Thank you from a loyal but pressed-for-time falcon watcher.
April 5th, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Well I guess things are the same. Kaver and Mariah know what there doing even though we dont. She is a great mother maybe slower but predicable. This is another good year . We all wish her well and as many eggs as she wants. Wait till there all flying about .
April 5th, 2007 at 4:11 PM
Jess — I love this new site! Your writings are so informative — thanks for the education. Do you know how old Mariah is, and how many more years can she be expected to produce eggs? Also — I remember last year, the Kodak site included a family tree, listing all of the offspring from the next box. I’m wondering if I can’t just find it this year, or if it’s not included on this site. If the latter is the case, is it something that could be added? I thought it was impressive. Thanks again for all your work!
April 5th, 2007 at 9:08 PM
Wow, what a wonderful resource and informative blog. I had heard about the falconcam but just stumbled across it recently, thank you for having such a wonderful site! I volunteer at a raptor rehab center and this will for sure be something to tell all our visitors about!
April 6th, 2007 at 7:37 AM
My children and I have been following the falcons since 2003. My daughter was only 4 then. Every morning they check the nest and many times after they get home from school. She is old enough now to read the educational information you are providing and learning so much. She runs for her brother and sisters every time a new egg appears or they are off the nest to give us a peak. Thank you for such a wonderful site!
April 6th, 2007 at 9:07 AM
This morning I checked in and saw the eggs alone. With the temperatures so unusually cold, isnt it odd that Mariah or Kaver would both leave the eggs exposed? I hope the weather doesnt affect this year’s eggs.
April 6th, 2007 at 2:18 PM
My 5 year old niece showed me this site and has me absolutely hooked on the beautiful falcons! Thank you so much for your efforts in bringing them to us. I’m curious though, in reading the journals and people’s concerns; how old do you think Mariah is? Also, where can I see who has sponsered your website? Or has no one? I would be so sad! It would something to bring up at one of my many philanthropic groups!
April 6th, 2007 at 5:01 PM
iIt was ammaizing when i saw her fourth egg. What if she lays her ffith egg. I will be waiting for her fifth egg.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:40 PM
I am so happy for Mariah’s and Kaver’s fourth egg!
Your wonderful articles explaining what is going on with them are great…I’ve been watching these two and all their young ones for 3 years now and continue to find them all fascinating!
April 7th, 2007 at 7:10 AM
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy keeping track of the falcons and their eggs. I started watching last year and was bummed when they left. I’m so excited they are back with these eggs. I love checking on them a couple of times a day.
Keep up the good work – much better than Kodak did.
I love being able to learn about them also.
April 7th, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Great job with the web site and the blog.
April 7th, 2007 at 1:56 PM
This website is excellent. What a great job of putting it together. I have been watching Mariah for a great number of years and it is always a welcome sight to see her and Kaver.
Keep up the good work and thanks for allowing so many people to keep in touch with these wonderful falcons.
April 7th, 2007 at 4:21 PM
looks like she making good time for easter. jessica
April 7th, 2007 at 9:36 PM
Hi Jess
great writing and thanks for you input my 3yr watching
and go you two Kaver and mate Mariah……
April 7th, 2007 at 10:17 PM
Our 3 kids, aged 10 and twins, 7, LOVE watching the nest! This is our first year and we are thoroughly enjoying checking in with Mariah and Kaver constantly and learning so much about the falcons from the history and blog entries. We are very excited at seeing the 4th egg! Thanks so much for the great live lessons about these wonderful birds! Well Done! We will be back for many years to come.
April 7th, 2007 at 10:21 PM
What a great experience. Every time I sit down at the computer, my first order of business is to see what Mariah and/or Kaver are doing. I anxiously wait, every year, for their nesting season. Thank you for letting us share the milestones.
April 12th, 2007 at 9:56 PM
I love watching these lovly birds! I cant belive that the fifth egg has gone missing!!!! It’s such a loss not to have 1 more of these birds in the world!
???I wonder how Mariah and Kaver are taking it???
April 14th, 2007 at 6:21 PM
Thank goodness Jess you are here this year to tell us all about these precious falcons and their babies. Last year was so depressing not being able to know or see what was taking place. I was so happy to see this site. You and all there do a fantastic job and bring so much joy into so many of our lives and this is so educatonal for our children as well. Ma and Pa here look great and I must say they are very devoted parents as well. Let’s all say a prayer for that lost egg and for these beautiful parents and their younguns…Thanks again for being there for us Jess and all..Jean