RICHMOND, VA ~ 2009

ljames · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:05 pm

It's taken me a couple of days to adjust to the cage. Well, I can't actually watch the cam yet but at least I can look at the pictures now. First of all, I am sooooo glad little Arnold survived the fall. I've heard some experts say that what I think might have happened is impossible, but I've also heard several eyewitness accounts of a parent actually getting beneath the baby to break it's fall and sort of carry it. I wonder if they did this. I just can't figure out why they fledge early at this sight and really nowhere else (unless accident). It's looks like a good nest and ledge. The only thing is they don't really seem to have a spot where they can look out and see that there is nothing but air out there. Most juvies/chicks can see from the safety of their nest or ledge that there is a dropoff and they seem to know instinctively to avoid that until they are ready to fly. I wonder if these babies jump up to the ledge and are so startled by what they see that they fall off. Well, it's just a theory and I can see myself that it sounds a little odd. And I could be wrong that they don't have a place to see the world beyond their ledge. Also, I cannot tell from the pictures if that cage has a top on it. Does it? Clearly they have enough space to move around (more that some nests) so I'm sure they will do well. I do worry a little that the male might get cheated if it comes down to fighting for the food. Also I can't tell from the pictures how the parent is feeding them exactly. Do they stick thier head throught the bars? Maybe in a few more days, I'll be able to watch and see for myself. :roll:

I realize there was no choice.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64352

It is hard to watch...but I understand and support the decision...maybe the ledge is metal and slippery..no way for the talons to grasp..and that's part of the issue? I have no clue...I wonder too if a parent helped him down...I remember rosekk17's account of Scout helping one of the juvies by getting underneath and guiding her to safety...How cool would that have been to see....such love of a parent...and Bev.'s been describing how the Edmonton parents guide the kids to where they want them to go...and help them when they are having trouble...its just so amazing...

They are able to pass food through the bars with their beak...I guess if the bars were any wider, the kids/parents would be in danger of getting stuck---either trying to go in or get out..

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:33 pm

ljames wrote:

It's taken me a couple of days to adjust to the cage. Well, I can't actually watch the cam yet but at least I can look at the pictures now. First of all, I am sooooo glad little Arnold survived the fall. I've heard some experts say that what I think might have happened is impossible, but I've also heard several eyewitness accounts of a parent actually getting beneath the baby to break it's fall and sort of carry it. I wonder if they did this. I just can't figure out why they fledge early at this sight and really nowhere else (unless accident). It's looks like a good nest and ledge. The only thing is they don't really seem to have a spot where they can look out and see that there is nothing but air out there. Most juvies/chicks can see from the safety of their nest or ledge that there is a dropoff and they seem to know instinctively to avoid that until they are ready to fly. I wonder if these babies jump up to the ledge and are so startled by what they see that they fall off. Well, it's just a theory and I can see myself that it sounds a little odd. And I could be wrong that they don't have a place to see the world beyond their ledge. Also, I cannot tell from the pictures if that cage has a top on it. Does it? Clearly they have enough space to move around (more that some nests) so I'm sure they will do well. I do worry a little that the male might get cheated if it comes down to fighting for the food. Also I can't tell from the pictures how the parent is feeding them exactly. Do they stick thier head throught the bars? Maybe in a few more days, I'll be able to watch and see for myself. :roll:

I realize there was no choice.

I have wondered why this building has problems with chicks falling/fledging early when other tall buildings don't have that problem & the idea that makes the most sense to me is that this building may act as a wind tunnel & the gusts blow the chicks off the ledge.

Jo~Anne · **Joined:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 9

I think that all of the problems mentioned above may have contributed to Arnies' unexpected trip....the ledge looks like it might be an aluminum (or metal of some sort) cap designed to protect the edge of the building....if that surface....combined with some rain and wind would have been about impossible for the li'l guy to hold on to....
While I don't like the idea of seeing them "caged", it seems to be necessary to keep them safe at this point....was just wondering if it might have been possible for them to just "fence" the ledge as to be too high for them to jump up on, but that would have also hindered them from having a fledge point when the time is right....
I haven't watched this nest as diligently as most....when should these babes be "ready" to fly....??

obxbarb · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:43 pm

catwoman wrote:

ljames wrote:

It's taken me a couple of days to adjust to the cage. Well, I can't actually watch the cam yet but at least I can look at the pictures now. First of all, I am sooooo glad little Arnold survived the fall. I've heard some experts say that what I think might have happened is impossible, but I've also heard several eyewitness accounts of a parent actually getting beneath the baby to break it's fall and sort of carry it. I wonder if they did this. I just can't figure out why they fledge early at this sight and really nowhere else (unless accident). It's looks like a good nest and ledge. The only thing is they don't really seem to have a spot where they can look out and see that there is nothing but air out there. Most juvies/chicks can see from the safety of their nest or ledge that there is a dropoff and they seem to know instinctively to avoid that until they are ready to fly. I wonder if these babies jump up to the ledge and are so startled by what they see that they fall off. Well, it's just a theory and I can see myself that it sounds a little odd. And I could be wrong that they don't have a place to see the world beyond their ledge. Also, I cannot tell from the pictures if that cage has a top on it. Does it? Clearly they have enough space to move around (more that some nests) so I'm sure they will do well. I do worry a little that the male might get cheated if it comes down to fighting for the food. Also I can't tell from the pictures how the parent is feeding them exactly. Do they stick thier head throught the bars? Maybe in a few more days, I'll be able to watch and see for myself. :roll:

I realize there was no choice.

I have wondered why this building has problems with chicks falling/fledging early when other tall buildings don't have that problem & the idea that makes the most sense to me is that this building may act as a wind tunnel & the gusts blow the chicks off the ledge.

I think that theory makes sense too. I forgot to mention that there were unusually high and sudden wind gusts on Friday. It looked to me as if the ledge might be a slick surface too.

Bonnie · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:13 pm

Actually, Water St loses eyasses often to gusts of wind. The new pair there seems to keep the eyasses close to the building until they are almost ready to take the plunge. Last year, a male fledged at 38 days. I saw him being guided up and back to the scrape by an adult. He was flying very well, too. He didn't make it and the building people got him and returned him. But there is no place on 55 Water to hang onto and rest while they make their way up. It's only 14 floors, too. Because of the wind, they can't make the turn around the corner to get back into the scrape. That's why the parents just take them next door and raise them there after they fledge.

A wire fence along the ledge seems like a good idea to me. But the pen is easy to set up and take down.

It looks like they were a bit older than most when they were banded.

Joanne · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:17 pm

I agree with the slippery surface of the ledge vs HBG is cement and they can move back quickly if a gust comes...often have been scared at HBG too when they are flappercizing and it's windy!

I can hardly see them, they are getting so dark. I do believe Arnold is on the ground outside as he's still the blackest.

obxbarb · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 5:07 pm

Bonnie wrote:

Actually, Water St loses eyasses often to gusts of wind. The new pair there seems to keep the eyasses close to the building until they are almost ready to take the plunge. Last year, a male fledged at 38 days. I saw him being guided up and back to the scrape by an adult. He was flying very well, too. He didn't make it and the building people got him and returned him. But there is no place on 55 Water to hang onto and rest while they make their way up. It's only 14 floors, too. Because of the wind, they can't make the turn around the corner to get back into the scrape. That's why the parents just take them next door and raise them there after they fledge.

A wire fence along the ledge seems like a good idea to me. But the pen is easy to set up and take down.

It looks like they were a bit older than most when they were banded.

They hatched on July 1st/2nd and were banded on the 27th. There were a few issues to be resolved at the building, so they were banded a little late. The male was the first born. Right after banding he went to the other side of the ledge. The DGIF blog is a quick read for background info.

gingersnap · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:39 pm

Is anyone else having trouble keeping the Richmond scrape page up?

Every time I get it open I get the message that there was something
wrong with the site and IE had to close. Six times I've been bumped
back to my home page.

I forgot to mention that I'm on my laptop
which has Vista but I have no problem on my desktop machine.
My IE is the latest version. This is so maddening.

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:54 pm

gingersnap wrote:

Is anyone else having trouble keeping the Richmond scrape page up?

Every time I get it open I get the message that there was something
wrong with the site and IE had to close. Six times I've been bumped
back to my home page.

I forgot to mention that I'm on my laptop
which has Vista but I have no problem on my desktop machine.
My IE is the latest version. This is so maddening.

IE doesn't like this cam, Gingersnap. It sounds like everyone who wants to do more than take a quick peek has to use Firefox. I couldn't even get away with a quick peek the other day at work where I don't have Firefox.

gingersnap · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:16 pm

Well I wonder if maybe SGB needs to make some sort of settings adjustment?
This is the first time IE ever did that on this computer. I read that the CCB
had computer problems this morning so is the DGIF giving us the scrape link
some of the time?

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:18 pm

gingersnap wrote:

Well I wonder if maybe SGB needs to make some sort of settings adjustment?
This is the first time IE ever did that on this computer. I read that the CCB
had computer problems this morning so is the DGIF giving us the scrape link
some of the time?

It doesn't have anything to do with this forum, but with IE. When I've tried to use IE to access any of the VA cams, it crashes, & has been like that for at least the past year.

gingersnap · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:34 pm

Well I know what I will do right now and that is to go to Internet Options and tell
IE that the VA cam is one of my trusted sites and maybe that will work, as long
as I remember to add the s to the http which is the key. I'll let you know if it
works.

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:42 pm

gingersnap wrote:

Well I know what I will do right now and that is to go to Internet Options and tell
IE that the VA cam is one of my trusted sites and maybe that will work, as long
as I remember to add the s to the http which is the key. I'll let you know if it
works.

If it does work, Gingersnap, let us know, cause we've all had this problem! Thx!

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:57 pm

catwoman · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:03 pm

All lined up in a row!

obxbarb · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:13 pm

I would recommend Firefox to anyone here. It takes five minutes to load and has more features than IE. I have never had an internet problem, including this cam, since I switched.

Here are a few from today:

gingersnap · **Posted:** Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:16 pm

Well Nancy there's something really strange going on with this laptop
because every time I enter the address for the scrape, Vista (?) or
something changes the way I entered it. Here's a picture of what I
mean. Notice after the forward slashes and before the ccb, there's
an asterisk and a period. I don't put that in there so how and why
is it always changed? Is there something about the ccb site that
my security program finds threatening? I'm really puzzled because I
have watched the scrape many times on this laptop with no problems
before. I'll have to go now and upload the pic into PB first. I wish we
had some other way to insert pictures especially when you only want to
attach one or two.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64352

gingersnap wrote:

Is anyone else having trouble keeping the Richmond scrape page up?

Every time I get it open I get the message that there was something
wrong with the site and IE had to close. Six times I've been bumped
back to my home page.

I forgot to mention that I'm on my laptop
which has Vista but I have no problem on my desktop machine.
My IE is the latest version. This is so maddening.

I've been having this issue ever since I got my new computer...I'm still running XP (didn't upgrade to Vista) but I'm running IE 7...this doesn't happen if I look at Richmond Using my AOL browser...I don't know if Richmond has changed the Axis Communication settings...I've even marked it as a trusted site, but that hasn't helped at all...

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64352

gingersnap wrote:

Well I wonder if maybe SGB needs to make some sort of settings adjustment?
This is the first time IE ever did that on this computer. I read that the CCB
had computer problems this morning so is the DGIF giving us the scrape link
some of the time?

Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it since its not connected with this forum...its coming from DGIF's end of things....I don't know anything about Axis Communication or Active X stuff...other than it is crashing my IE 7...adjusting my IE security settings has no effect...

Works perfectly through my AOL browser....its got to be a Microsoft issue...

Bird Cams Around the World

RICHMOND, VA ~ 2009

Who is online